Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 is scheduled to fly aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 4E on 2026-05-12. LaunchDetect tracks the rocket's thermal signature in geostationary satellite infrared imagery from the moment the engines ignite, giving you an orbital vantage point on the ascent that ground cameras cannot match.
The pad sits at 34.6320°, -120.6110°. Our detection pipeline ingests GOES-18, GOES-19, and Himawari-9 frames and isolates plumes within seconds of liftoff. You can watch it happen live during the launch window.
Launch windows slip. Weather scrubs missions. LaunchDetect monitors the actual hardware on the pad, not the schedule, so you see the launch the moment it happens, regardless of broadcast availability.
Window: 2026-05-12T01:43:50+00:00 to 2026-05-12T02:43:50+00:00 UTC. Site: Space Launch Complex 4E. Vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5.
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-172 |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Site | Space Launch Complex 4E (vandenberg) |
| Coordinates | 34.63204, -120.611 |
| Window | 2026-05-12T01:43:50+00:00 to 2026-05-12T02:43:50+00:00 UTC |
| Status | sensors |
LaunchDetect monitors GOES-18, GOES-19, and Himawari-9 geostationary weather satellites for the thermal signature of every rocket launch on Earth. The platform turns 22,000-mile-altitude infrared imagery into a live view of ascent. Browse all upcoming launches.