Launch in setting sun created shining streak widely seen throughout southern California and as far away as Arizona

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A reused SpaceX rocket carried 10 satellites into orbit from California on Friday, leaving behind a trail of mystery and wonder as it soared into space.



The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg air force base, carrying the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications.

The launch in the setting sun created a shining, billowing streak that was widely seen throughout southern California and as far away as Phoenix, Arizona.

Spacewatch: SpaceX reuses rocket to launch north American satellite Read more

Calls came in to TV stations as far afield as San Diego, more than 200 miles south of the launch site, as people puzzled about what caused the strange sight.

Cars stopped on freeways in Los Angeles so drivers and passengers could take pictures and video.

Keltie Knight (@KeltieKnight) WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER HOLLYWOOD RIGHT NOW? #LosAngeles #hollywood pic.twitter.com/lMM9ZB3DZD

The broad glowing plume, which depending on who you asked somewhat resembled a whale or a condom, was a result of the rocket’s exhaust gasses being illuminated by the sun, which had just barely set.

The Los Angeles fire department issued an advisory that the “mysterious light in the sky” was from the rocket launch.

“SpaceX rocket launch from Vandenberg was the flash you saw in the sky! No cause for concern,” added the Ventura County sheriff’s office.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in the air, as seen from Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Social Media/Reuters

Jimmy Golen, a sports writer for Associated Press in Boston who was in southern California for the holidays, said he and other tourists saw the long, glowing contrail while touring Warner Brothers studio in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank.

“People were wondering if it had something to do with movies, or TV or a ufo,” he said. “It was very cool.”

SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, even got in on the fun, captioning a video of the launch as “Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea”, a lighthearted dig at some of the more outlandish conspiracy theories the launch triggered.

Elon Musk (@elonmusk) Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea pic.twitter.com/GUIHpKkkp5

The same rocket carried Iridium satellites into orbit in June. That time, the first stage landed on a floating platform in the Pacific ocean. This time, the rocket was allowed to plunge into the sea.

It was the 18th and final launch of 2017 for SpaceX, which has contracted to replace Iridium’s system with 75 updated satellites. SpaceX has made four launches and expects to make several more to complete the job by mid-2018.

The satellites also carry payloads for global aircraft tracking and a ship-tracking service.

The company announced on Friday night that all 10 of the satellites had successfully made it into orbit and sent “healthy signal” to Earth.