A set of European satellites arrived in space late Saturday night following a successful and loud Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The two-stage rocket built by SpaceX lifted off at 10:13 p.m., climbing away into clear skies from Space Launch Complex-4 on the base.
About eight minutes later, the first-stage booster returned to land at a site just west of the launch site, with loud sonic booms announcing its arrival…