BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 If you\u2019re awake early Thursday morning, don\u2019t be surprised if you hear a loud boom across the Space Coast and much of Central Florida.<\/p>\n
SpaceX is targeting a 3:09 a.m. EDT launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NROL-95 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.<\/p>\n
Following liftoff, the Falcon 9\u2019s first-stage booster is scheduled to return to Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. <\/p>\n
The return-to-launch-site landing is expected to produce one or more sonic booms that could be heard across the Space Coast and parts of Central Florida.<\/p>\n
The booster flying the mission is making its seventh flight. It previously supported the KF-01, IMAP, NROL-77, GPS III-9, CRS-34, and one Starlink mission.<\/p>\n
The National Reconnaissance Office has not released details about the payload, as the mission is classified.<\/p>\n
If needed, SpaceX has a backup launch opportunity at 2:55 a.m. on Friday.<\/p>\n
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