Rocket Carrying Secret Government Payload Lifts Off from California Base, Some Question Whether More Covert Items Could Be On Board

An Atlas V rocket carrying a covert payload for the United States government successfully lifted off from the California coast on Thursday night.

The rocket launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base Thursday night at about 11:15 PST, according to the International Business Times. In spite of the recent cold front in California, which threatened to delay liftoff, the rocket managed to burst into the atmosphere smoothly and without issue.

Although the liftoff itself was live tweeted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence while the Department of Defense kept the public updated via Facebook, some have speculated that the secrecy concerning the cargo might mean that the rocket had spy satellites in tow.

The rocket was reportedly carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office - a body that oversees America's intel-gaining satellites, the Associated Press reported. The Atlas V was also said to be transporting tiny satellites called CubeSats.

The agency hasn't released more information on the payload stacked into the 19-story-tall rocket yet.

The NRO, which was founded in 1961 as "the agency in charge of designing, building, launching and maintaining America's intelligence satellites," has largely kept secret the destination and intentions of the payload, leading some to question whether the agency might have other secret items on board, such as spy satellites, the IB Times reported.

This is the second time an Atlas V rocket successfully launched from the West Coast base.