SuccessSpaceX

Falcon 9 Block 5 | 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.

Launch Replay

Launch Details

Date & Time

NET Mon, May 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM PT

Window: 7:13 PM – 7:28 PM PT

Vehicle

Falcon 9

B1097 • Flight 9

Mission

NROL-172

Launch Pad

SLC-4E

Vandenberg SFB, CA

Orbit

N/A

Launch Successful

Where to Watch

Launch Recap

SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches NROL-172

Recap of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday, May 11, 2026. Mission successful.

Read the recap

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Viewing Guide

Where to Watch This Launch

8 spots across the 805 — line up with the beam to know where to face. Launching from SLC-4E.

Coral dashed line shows the approximate flight path for the first ~200 miles after liftoff. Derived from the target orbit (N/A) — actual trajectory may vary by a few degrees.