In Pictures: SpaceX Launches Classified USSF-366 Mission from California

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the classified USSF-366 mission for the U.S. Space Force.

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The Falcon 9's first-stage booster descends toward a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean after successful separation.

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Spectators observe the launch from a distance, with the rocket's ascent trail visible over the California coastline.

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SpaceX's launch control center monitors telemetry during the classified mission's ascent phase.

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U.S. Space Force personnel coordinate with SpaceX engineers during the secure mission's countdown.

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The payload fairing, which conceals the classified Starshield satellite, is recovered after splashdown.

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The Falcon 9 rocket is seen on the pad ahead of the USSF-366 launch, with the payload shroud sealed.

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A long-exposure photograph captures the Falcon 9's trajectory over the Pacific Ocean after liftoff.

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The mission's second stage, carrying the classified payload, is seen in a pre-launch processing facility.

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