Vandenberg Air Force Launches SpaceX Rocket

Vandenberg Air Force Base launched a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket around 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Edhat readers were quick to write in with questions of “what was that boom?” and “is that a bird? or a plane?” Booms and rattling could be felt as far as Carpinteria with anyone outside privy to seeing a bright streak in the sky.

Team Vandenberg’s fourth Iridium mission consisting of 10 satellites on the rocket successfully launched from Space Launch Complex-4 in Lompoc.

Col. Michael S. Hough, 30th Space Wing commander, was the space launch commander.

 “Team Vandenberg is excited to begin and end 2017 with Falcon 9 launches,” said Hough. “We take our mission of providing assured access to space seriously and we’ve diligently worked with our SpaceX mission partners to ensure a safe and successful launch.”

Local photographer Fritz Olenberger captured the above photo from Hope Ranch stating the rocket was traveling from right to left in the photo, possibly right after state separation. Also, check out the crescent moon in the lower left of the photo. 

Below are more photos from edhat readers:

By J. Dymant in Toro Canyon

Night Sky: The dragonhead (moon is bright small speck in its beast’s “chest”)

By Holazola

Rocket launch photos, the last photo shows the first stage returning to earth.

 

 

 

 

By Betsy

Seen at Shoreline Park last night, shortly after the Vandenberg takeoff at 5:27.

 

By Levi C, Maaia

Here’s a photo I took this evening from the Mesa of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch. This was a very dramatic launch because the sun had just set and the high-altitude smoke trail was illuminated from the light coming over the horizon.