Residents across Southern California were treated to a rare celestial display as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket left a visually striking exhaust plume in its wake after a successful launch on Sunday evening. According to NBC Los Angeles, the launch occurred just after 7 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the sight was visible for miles in Santa Barbara, LA, and Orange counties. The mission saw the deployment of 28 new Starlink satellites to expand SpaceX's already considerable constellation, meant to provide high-speed internet globally.
While many looked up in awe, mistaken reports of sonic booms echoed across social media, which SpaceX had anticipated. Hailing from the Mojave Desert, Space.com's Managing Editor Brett Tingley captured the essence of the phenomenon when he said, "I've seen plenty of Falcon 9 'jellyfish' online but never in person." His experience, as seen across the Western U.S. skies, had been depicted in photos and videos that made rounds on social platforms, with onlookers marveling at the glowing 'jellyfish' effect created by the rocket's engine exhaust as it hit the upper atmosphere. Fascinated, the spectators from Los Angeles to Phoenix soaked in the sights that are not an everyday occurrence, with some even mistaking the long streak for a comet.
What led to this spectacle was a combination of the timing of the launch during dusk and clear atmospheric conditions. The first stage booster, on its 28th flight, landed downrange on SpaceX's droneship shortly after launch. Space.com detailed the expansion of the rocket's exhaust as it ascended through the density of Earth's upper atmosphere, contributing to the 'jellyfish' effect as the setting sun backlit the expanding plume.
Interestingly, such occurrences are predictable, although launches near dawn or dusk tend to create ideal conditions for them. If you missed out on this visual treat, you might want to pay attention to future SpaceX launch schedules. Using tools like the FindStarlink tracker can help residents within a few hundred miles of a launch pad catch these celestial events next time they unfold in the sky.
