The evening twilight skies over southern California lit up on December 22, 2017 when SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB. The launch was flawless, and the rocket carried 10 satellites from Iridium Communications into low-Earth orbit. Many people were out, many apparently looked up, and many caught images! Some knew what they were looking at, and some … well, didn’t. Is it still SoCal terminology to say some people freaked out?
And who wouldn’t be surprised, if not concerned, if you didn’t know what was happening and then witnessed this baby going up?
#KTLA #SpaceX Caught on Video! Stage Light after SpaceX Launch pic.twitter.com/rDFMoMGQ4o
— Maruf Bakhramov (@bmmaruf) December 23, 2017
Here's my video of tonight's @SpaceX launch as it shot over SoCal, compressed to 20 seconds. Such a great sight to see. #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/VHbNeMDT8N
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) December 23, 2017
The excellent video below, of the launch and its aftermath, is from Doug Ellison in Alhambra, California. He was clearly prepared.
But, really, some people just didn’t know what they were seeing.
What did I just witness?? pic.twitter.com/JsHfqTsxm0
— Danny United (@dannyunited) December 23, 2017
Who saw this?!? UFO??? pic.twitter.com/SOQuMt4mPi
— Tanner Fox (@tannerfox) December 23, 2017
SpaceX later confirmed a successful launch and deployment of the satellites. Congratulations, SpaceX and all who witnessed this launch!
Successful deployment of 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites to low-Earth orbit confirmed. pic.twitter.com/CTtvPYNgMA
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 23, 2017
Bottom line: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch over southern California December 22, 2017. Photos and video here.
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