A Falcon 9 rocket was carrying the secretive government payload

The payload is for the office which makes and operates spy satellites for the US

About 10 minutes after launch, the first stage of the rocket came back to Earth

SpaceX today blasted off a secretive US government payload, known only as NROL-76, marking the first military launch for the aerospace company.

The payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the US, soared into the sky atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 7:15 am (11:15 GMT).

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About 10 minutes after launch, the scorched first stage of the rocket came back to Earth and landed upright at Cape Canaveral, marking the fourth successful solid ground landing for SpaceX.

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The new craft's two stages will be recoverable, while a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (pictured) can only recover its first stage

THE SECRET PAYLOAD Until now, the US military has spent billions per year exclusively with United Launch Alliance, a joint operation of aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to launch government satellites. SpaceX in 2014 protested the US Air Force's practice of using only ULA, saying it unfairly awarded billions of dollars to a single company for national security launches. SpaceX to was selected to launch NROL-76 'after a competition,' said the NRO spokeswoman. Little is known about the payload due to its classified nature.

'And we have touchdown,' a SpaceX commentator said on the live webcast of the event as cheers broke out at mission control.

'The first stage has landed back at Landing Zone 1.

'Another good day for us at SpaceX. A beautiful sight to see.'

Live video of the launch showed the first and second stages of the rocket separating about two and a half minutes into the flight.

The larger, first stage, made a gentle arc and powered its nitrogen thrusters to guide it back to Earth.

The rocket then set itself down, gently and steadily, in the center of the 300-foot (91-metre) circular landing zone.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX has also shared footage of the moment that scorched first stage of the rocket came back to Earth and landed upright at Cape Canaveral, marking the fourth successful solid ground landing for SpaceX.

Musk is leading an effort in the rocket industry to re-use costly parts rather than jettison them into the ocean after each launch.

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The payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, which makes and operates spy satellites for the US, soared into the sky atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 7:15 am (11:15 GMT)

SpaceX has already made multiple successful landings, some on floating platforms - known as drone ships - in the ocean.

The launch was initially planned for Sunday, but was postponed in the last seconds before liftoff due to a sensor issue with the rocket, SpaceX said.

The sensor in question was replaced ahead of Monday's attempt.

About 10 minutes after launch, the scorched first stage of the rocket came back to Earth and landed upright at Cape Canaveral, marking the fourth successful solid ground landing for SpaceX

The rocket is pictured as it took off

SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage arrives at landing zone 1 after delivering NROL-76 to orbit

Little was known about the payload due to its classified nature.

'As a matter of policy and because of classification, NRO does not provide information about our contracts,' a spokeswoman said.

Until now, the US military has spent billions per year exclusively with United Launch Alliance, a joint operation of aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to launch government satellites.

SpaceX has already made multiple successful landings, some on floating platforms - known as drone ships - in the ocean

The scorched first stage of the rocket came back to Earth and landed upright at Cape Canaveral, marking the fourth successful solid ground landing for SpaceX

SpaceX in 2014 protested the US Air Force's practice of using only ULA, saying it unfairly awarded billions of dollars to a single company for national security launches.

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The firm to was selected to launch NROL-76 'after a competition,' said the NRO spokeswoman.

The launch was initially planned for Sunday, but was postponed in the last seconds before liftoff due to a sensor issue with the rocket, SpaceX said

The first stage of the rocket is pictured as it returned to Earth having successfully deposited the mysterious military payload

The landing of the first stage of the rocket marks the fourth time that SpaceX has successfully return a rocket to Earth

She said she did not know when the contract was awarded. The contract was first announced last year.

SpaceX regularly launches unmanned cargo ships to the International Space Station, and is working on a crew capsule that could carry humans into orbit as early as next year.