Santa Ynez Valley

Santa Ynez Valley
Our Backyard

Saturday, January 14, 2017

SpaceX Falcon-9

Since we were staying close to Vandenberg Air Force Base, we decided to try to watch the rescheduled launch of SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket.  This launch, carrying ten next generation Iridium satellites, was critical to the future of SpaceX.


A number of people were parked just outside the base hoping to see the launch.



Right after the scheduled launch time, the rocket appeared rising behind a ridge between our location and the launch pad.




In the upper atmosphere the rocket started to produce a contrail.



This is a heavy crop since the rocket climbed quickly and headed downrange.



The distant rocket shrouded by its own contrail



The upper winds quickly twisted the originally straight contrail.