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Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172
Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 launched on Tue, May 12, 2026, 02:13 AM UTC — a SpaceX mission.
Launch SuccessfulSpaceX
Lifted offNET May 2026
NET Tue, May 12, 2026, 02:13 AM UTC
Live coverage
Watch the webcasts
3 streams available — switch between the provider’s feed, X and others.
Mission profile
The flight at a glance
Falcon 9Vehicle
SpaceXProvider
Space Launch Complex 4EPad
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALocation
Government/Top SecretMission type
UnknownOrbit
Flight sequence
Mission timeline
Key events from liftoff — ignition, staging, separation and deployment — with their times relative to T0.
- GO for Prop LoadT- 00:38:00
- Prop LoadT- 00:35:00
- Stage 1 LOX LoadT- 00:35:00
- Stage 2 LOX LoadT- 00:16:00
- Engine ChillT- 00:07:00
- StartupT- 00:01:00
- Tank PressT- 00:01:00
- GO for LaunchT- 00:00:45
- IgnitionT- 00:00:03
- LiftoffT+ 00:00:00
- Max-QT+ 00:01:06
- MECOT+ 00:02:25
- Stage 2 SeparationT+ 00:02:29
- SES-1T+ 00:02:36
- Fairing SeparationT+ 00:02:53
- Entry Burn StartupT+ 00:06:15
- Entry Burn ShutdownT+ 00:06:38
- Stage 1 Landing BurnT+ 00:08:06
- Stage 1 LandingT+ 00:08:30
Flight simulation
Ascent to orbit
A representative gravity-turn climb for Falcon 9 to Unknown. Illustrative model — not this mission’s live telemetry.
Mission timeT+0:00
Altitude0.0 km
Velocity0.00 km/s
PhaseLiftoff
T+0:00 / 8:00
SimulatedRepresentative Falcon 9 ascent profile — illustrative model, not this mission’s live telemetry.
The mission
NROL-172
Thirteenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.
Around this launch
Related news
No news linked to this launch yet
As coverage publishes, deduplicated articles about this mission will appear here.
Good to know
Frequently asked
What time does Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 launch?
Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 is scheduled to lift off Tue, May 12, 2026, 02:13 AM UTC.
Where can I watch Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172?
Watch the official live webcast embedded on this page — it goes live shortly before liftoff.
Who is launching Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172?
Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 is a SpaceX mission flying on a Falcon 9.
Where does Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 launch from?
It lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.