A stunning twilight launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base captivated onlookers across the Western United States on Monday night, delivering both satellites to orbit and a celestial spectacle.
Lifting off at 8:34 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-4, the two-stage Falcon 9 successfully sent 26 additional Starlink satellites into orbit approximately an hour after liftoff.
A Rocket-Powered Sky Phenomenon
What made this launch particularly memorable was the spectacular visual display created by the “twilight phenomenon.” This well-known effect occurs during launches just before sunrise or shortly after sunset. As the rocket ascends into the less dense upper atmosphere, exhaust particles from its propellant condense, freeze, and expand. Even though the sun has set at ground level, its rays still illuminate this high-altitude plume against the dark sky.
The result is often a breathtaking, colorful effect, sometimes appearing as vibrant shades of rose, blue, green, or other hues. This dramatic display can be seen hundreds of miles away from the launch site, turning a standard satellite delivery into a widespread public event. Past twilight launches from Vandenberg have similarly created dazzling, sometimes jellyfish-like shapes in the sky, sparking awe and even confusion among unprepared observers.
Widespread Visibility and Reactions
On Monday night, clear skies combined with the precise timing of the launch minutes after sunset provided ideal conditions for viewing the ascent and the resulting illuminated plume. Spectators reported seeing the rocket’s climb for over six minutes, witnessing key moments like the separation of the first-stage booster and the fairing halves. Notably, one photo caption described winds dispersing the contrail into the distinct shape of a heart.
Sightings poured in from a vast area, including across Southern California (with reports even from Dodger Stadium during a baseball game), Arizona, and Nevada. Historically, these striking visual events have sometimes led to public confusion and speculation, ranging from mistaken assumptions of rocket failure in earlier eras to imaginative theories involving aliens or UFOs fueled by social media buzz during more recent launches. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has even playfully engaged with such speculation in the past.
Mission Success and Booster Reuse
Beyond the visual show, the mission was a success. The Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, which was making its third flight, successfully returned and landed on a droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This highlights SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to rocket reusability, a key factor in reducing the cost of spaceflight. Reusing boosters has become a routine part of many SpaceX missions, with some boosters having flown over twenty times on various missions, including previous Starlink and satellite deployments from Vandenberg and other launch sites.
This recent launch was the 25th Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2025, demonstrating the increasing pace of operations from the West Coast site. Another Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg could potentially occur as soon as Friday afternoon, offering another chance for residents to witness the incredible power and potentially another stunning sky show from these missions.
