San Diego

Rocket splits sky in Southern California, drawing viewers from San Diego to Phoenix

The NWS in Las Vegas and and a news station in Phoenix reported seeing the exhaust trail.

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A rocket launch from Vandenburg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County soared over the sky Thursday evening, piquing the interest of people across Southern California and as far as Arizona and Las Vegas.

NBC 7 and NBC LA viewers sent in video, tagged us in social media posts and called our desk to report the spectacle. The NWS in Las Vegas and the NBC affiliate in Phoenix reported seeing the exhaust trail around 7:30 PST.

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The rocket launch was a planned but unscheduled mission from U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace. It was set for sometime between September and March but not exact date was given

The Victus Nox mission was a test of U.S. ability to respond to threats. The launch took place 27 hours after receiving orders, a new record for responsive space launch, SSC said.

“This exercise is part of an end-to-end Tactically Responsive Space demonstration which proves the United States Space Force can rapidly integrate capabilities and will respond to aggression when called to do so on tactically relevant timelines,” SSC Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein said.

For people across Southern California, it was something to behold -- the rocket pierced the sky with a yellow glow as an illuminated contrail streaked behind it at sunset. Here are some photos from our viewers:

Kerry Vale witnesses a rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sept. 14, 2024.
Kerry Vale
Kerry Vale witnesses a rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sept. 14, 2023.
A rocket streaks across the sky
A rocket streaks across the sky in this photo captured by Leticia Funcke from Chula Vista on Sept. 14, 2023 (Leticia Funcke)
A rocket streaks across the sky in this photo captured by Brian Wilson on Sept. 14, 2023
Brian Wilson
A rocket streaks across the sky in this photo captured by Brian Wilson on Sept. 14, 2023
A Firefly rocket launch as seen from Balboa Island Thursday Sept. 14, 2023.
Christian R
A Firefly rocket launch as seen from Balboa Island Thursday Sept. 14, 2023.
Lynn Kelley captured the remnants of the rocket launch from behind trees on Sept. 14, 2023.
Lynn Kelley
Lynn Kelley captured the remnants of the rocket launch from behind trees on Sept. 14, 2023.
The sunset glows as a rocket streaks across the sky from Vandenberg Air Force base on SEpt. 14, 2023.
Aimee Bond
The sunset glows as a rocket streaks across the sky from Vandenberg Air Force base on Sept. 14, 2023.
SpaceX launched a test flight of Starship, its biggest and most powerful rocket. The launch lasted four minutes before a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
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