The skies of Southern California were aglow Monday evening as a SpaceX rocket streaked across on its way into space.
The Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles, around 7:30pm leaving a bright plume of smoke in its wake.
The visuals were perhaps even more stunning that usual as the sun had only set 15 minutes earlier, but light from our closest star still hit the plume illuminating it.
It ensured the long-trailing cloud was visible across the region including in neighboring Arizona.
Launches either just before sunset or just prior to sunrise usually provide the best views as the rocket reflects the sun’s rays with a dark sky background.
SpaceX had been due to launch the rocket on Saturday but a weekend storm meant the departure was delayed.
This time the rocket was carrying a payload of 22 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The launch was the 11th from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It was also the 32nd Falcon 9 launch of 2024, and the 21st used to help build out the ‘Starlink megaconstellation.’
After the satellites were deployed, the booster landed on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
Starlink is ‘the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more,’ according to the service’s website.
The ‘constellation’ of satellites consists of thousands of satellites that orbit Earth at an altitude of about 340 miles.
The satellites then connect to antennas that users set up at their home to provide internet access.
When light conditions are right, the satellites appear in a train as they parade across the night sky.
The satellites are sometimes visible in the first few minutes after sundown and before sunrise when the sun is below the horizon, but the satellites are high enough to reflect direct sunlight.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
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