GO! - SpaceX - Falcon 9 - NROL-172 - SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - Space Affairs Live

Launch Date: May 11, 2026 - PDT Launch Time: 3:28 p.m. PDT, 6:28 p.m. EDT, 2228 UTC (May 13, 00:28 CEST) Launch Window: Open until 7:28 p.m. PST Launch Site: SLC-4E - Vandenberg Space Force Base, California Targeted Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Launch Inclination: Southeast Launch Status: Scheduled and announced Mission: NROL-172 Launch Provider: SpaceX Launcher System: Falcon 9 (Booster 1103) Flight for the Booster: 2 Previous Flights of the Booster: 1 Starlink Mission Booster landing: Droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" (OCISLY) Price: $74 million (without payload) Diameter: 3,7 m Height: 70 meters Payload to Orbit: 22,800 LEO / 8,300 GTO Lift-Off Thrust: 7,607 kilonewtons Fairing: Diameter 5,2 meters / Height 13 meters Stages: 2 SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-172 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 3:01 p.m. PT, with a backup opportunity available on Thursday, May 14 at 2:47 p.m. PT if needed. This is the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what they experience will depend on weather and other conditions. You will find more information about the trajectory and data on the day of the launch here: https://flightclub.io/live Countdown Hr/Min/Sec Event 00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load 00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins 00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins 00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch 00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks 00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch 00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff