This photograph released by SpaceX shows its Falcon 9 rocket before liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Calif., Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. The reused SpaceX rocket has carried 10 satellites into space from California, leaving behind it a trail of mystery and wonder. The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg AFB shortly before 5:30 p.m. PST. It carried the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications. (SpaceX via AP)
Washington: US space firm SpaceX on Sunday launched a top secret payload into space for the US government, known only by the codename Zuma.

The payload took off early this morning on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Northrop Grumman, an American aerospace and defence technology company, acknowledged that it arranged the launch on the US government’s behalf and said the payload would be launched into a low-Earth orbit.

However, very little is known about the nature of the Zuma mission, as no US government agency has claimed responsibility for it so far.

SpaceX has already launched two classified payloads for the US government during the past year.

As usual, SpaceX once again landed Falcon 9’s first stage back to Earth during Sunday’s mission.

Such landings are part of SpaceX’s efforts to develop fully reusable rockets, which the company believes could bring down spaceflight costs.