A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a national security payload lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday morning, marking the 49th launch of the year from the West Coast spaceport and rattling the Central Coast with a sonic boom on its return.

The rocket launched at 10:38 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 4 East, carrying the National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-48 mission .

The classified mission is part of the NRO’s proliferated architecture program, which is deploying hundreds of small satellites to improve coverage, speed and resiliency for U.S. intelligence and military users.

Eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage booster successfully touched down at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg, creating a sonic boom that was heard up and down the Central Coast.

The

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