VICTOR VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Saturday evening created a striking spiral plume that lit up the sky across the High Desert, surprising residents throughout the Victor Valley.
The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California’s Central Coast as part of a Starlink mission carrying internet satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Shortly after launch, observers across Southern California reported seeing a glowing streak followed by a swirling cloud formation that lingered in the twilight sky.
The unusual spiral effect occurs when rocket exhaust expands and freezes at high altitude, reflecting sunlight even after sunset.
The phenomenon, sometimes called a “space jellyfish,” is common during dusk launches and can be visible hundreds of miles from the launch site under clear conditions.
Residents from Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and surrounding communities shared photos and videos of the spectacle on social media as the plume slowly drifted across the sky.
SpaceX regularly launches Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg, with many of the missions supporting the company’s Starlink satellite network designed to provide global high-speed internet coverage.
Did you see the spiral in the sky Saturday night, and where were you when you noticed it?
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