A beautiful dark sky … we’ll see stars and constellations … and other things flying by … I always find it a treat to actually identify constellations and flying objects. So when I heard about the upcoming launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9, we decided to look out our backyard on launch night, and then discovered the launch was scrubbed due to weather. We did wonder if we would even see it in Arizona when it launched from California. But what the heck, no loss any time looking at a dark sky! If we did not see any part of the launch, there would be a live launch website to tune into, so in time we’d see this rocket … even hours or days later.

After a couple of days I forgot all about the possible launch as I traveled to Southern California. This was my “dry run” of the van before venturing thousands of miles cross-country in upcoming months.

It was getting late in the day and instead of an email to my partner, I asked, how about a phone call? I could stand outdoors, walk around and in short time be back at the van for the night.

While talking on the phone, I saw something that I knew was not an airplane plus the contrails were very long and wide in the sky. As I looked closer I could see the nose was definitely not an airplane. I asked, did the rocket just launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base a minute or so ago? 

Yes, the weather was perfect for a California launch and here I was watching it from the Salton Sea camping area! I quickly sent photos to my partner of the rocket and contrails. Amazing! Here I was seeing the rocket in the sky 4 minutes after launch!

Past reading about SpaceX was always fascinating to me. Such ambitious plans to build rockets where its boosters return to earth to be reused. I recalled the rocket returning within 8-9 minutes after the launch. The rocket sets down on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean, called “Of Course I Still Love You”. But I also knew this mission was to deploy 22 StarLink satellites. How was that to be done?

To refresh my memory and answer questions I had about how all was accomplished, I watched Spaceflight Now video. Their coverage begins 30 minutes before the launch window until the launch or announced delay. I watched their video which was very informative … minute by minute of what would happen in the sky. Two new pieces of information for me were:

1. They shift over to SpaceX with their cameras so one can see the booster landing on the droneship. Fascinating to watch as the legs are set and it slowly lands on the droneship.
2. The satellites are what appears to be a big stack of pancakes, looking like a box put into orbit. If I understand it all, in time each satellite will separate and open and go to the orbit it has been pre-programmed for during its duration of use. When the day comes that the satellite is old or whatever, it is programmed to fall through the atmosphere and burn up. This is so less debris is in space as equipment ages out. (If any part of this is incorrect, please write me, but so far this has been my understanding. Thanks)

Needless to say, I am in awe of the physics, computer technology and creative genius in accomplishing such a task. I applaud the individuals who have dedicated their energies to such work when you realize this booster has been used 15 times over! That is a huge accomplishment!

Check out Spaceflight Now if you are interested in a launch and do not live near where one may be launched in California, Texas or Florida. Really fascinating to learn what is being accomplished!