A Falcon 9 rocket launched successfully on Monday evening, carrying 22 Starlink satellites into orbit. The two-stage rocket departed Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:09 p.m., beating the initial Sunday liftoff target. After a brief hour-long separation of the spacecraft, the mission concluded.
The launch was notable for its timing, occurring just before sunset and creating a spectacular display in the sky. This phenomenon occurs when exhaust particles from the rocket condense, freeze, and expand in the upper atmosphere, interacting with sunlight to produce colorful effects.
Observers as far away as San Diego and Arizona witnessed the spectacle, which can sometimes be mistaken for a failed launch. However, three components of the rocket – the first-stage booster, payload fairing halves, and landing sites – safely returned to Earth, highlighting SpaceX’s efforts to reuse parts for future missions.
This was the sixth launch of 2025 from Vandenberg and marks the 23rd successful landing of a Falcon 9 first-stage booster. The mission aims to reduce rocket costs and time between launches through recycling of reusable components. Multiple launches are planned this year, including NASA payloads set to travel into orbit aboard a Falcon rocket.
Source: https://www.noozhawk.com/spacex-rocket-delivers-twilight-show-after-vandenberg-sfb-liftoff