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Credit & Copyright: Brian Haidet
Explanation:
Not the
Hubble Space
Telescope's latest view of a distant planetary nebula,
this illuminated cloud of gas and dust
dazzled
even casual U.S. west coast skygazers on October 7.
Taken
about three miles north of Vandenberg Air Force Base,
the image follows plumes and exhaust from the first
and second stage of a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket
rising through southern California's early evening skies.
In the fading twilight, the reddish smoke drifting in the foreground
at the right is from the initial ascent of the rocket.
The expanding blue and orange filamentary plumes are from
first and second stage separation and the first stage
boostback burn,
still in sunlight at extreme altitudes.
But the bright spot below center is the second stage itself
headed almost directly away from the camera,
accelerating to orbital velocity and far downrange.
Pulsed thrusters form the upside down V-shape at the top
as they guide the reusable Falcon 9 first stage
back to the landing site.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: rocket - launch
Publications with words: rocket - launch
See also: