SpaceX launches final Falcon rocket of 2022 from Vandenberg. Here’s what it was carrying

A Falcon rocket placed an Israeli spy satellite into orbit after blasting off Thursday night, capping a busy year at Vandenberg Space Force Base near Lompoc.

The two-stage rocket built by Space Exploration Technologies lifted off from Space Launch Complex-4 East on the South Base with a loud and long rumble at 11:38 p.m.

The departure was delayed 11 minutes for unknown reasons.

Hitching a ride inside the rocket’s payload fairing was EROS C-3, a high-resolution imaging satellite for Israel.

Deployment of the 882-pound satellite occurred more than 14 minutes after liftoff with on-board cameras showing the ImageSat International next-generation spacecraft drifting away.

“Today’s payload is part of the EROS New Generation seven-satellite constellation, one of the world’s s top intelligence gathering assets in space,” said Jessie Anderson, SpaceX launch commenter.

ISI’s satellites have revealed China’s deployment of new missile batteries on an island in the South China Sea, damaging effects of Russia’s attack on an airport in Ukraine, including destruction of the world’s largest cargo aircraft, and detection of hidden landing strips suspected of supporting illegal activities in Brazil’s rainforest.

The “game-changing” spacecraft will have commercial, defense and security applications, joining three other satellites launched previously, according to officials.

“Tomorrow, its data will be used to defend against new threats and reveal more about the world we live in,” according to ISI video.

To place the payload into its intended orbit, the rocket took a more southwesterly path as it left the Central Coast.

The team began the countdown toward liftoff Thursday with a bleak weather forecast predicting a 30% likelihood that conditions would force a scrub because of the latest in a series of storms.

The mission marked the 11th flight for the first-stage booster, which returned for its landing at Vandenberg approximately eight minutes after liftoff.

Sonic booms accompanied the booster’s trip back to the Central Coast landing site just west of its launch pad.

The safe return signaled the 160th overall recovery of Falcon 9 and Heavy rocket stages.

While notices warning pilots and boaters of the rocket launch were issued days ahead of time, SpaceX acknowledged the attempt less than eight hours before the planned liftoff.

Vandenberg public affairs staff also remained mum, including failing to warn the community about sonic booms accompanying the mission.

The launch marked the 61st and final Falcon departure of 2022, with 13 taking off from Vandenberg and the remaining missions occurring from Florida.

Overall, it was a busy year for Vandenberg, which saw three other rockets carry out space missions and three missile tests for a total of 19 launches in 2022.