Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Lights Up California Skies

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites is viewed from Palm Springs, Calif., on March 18, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

“What the heck is that?!” southern California resident Jessica Equils, 40, said pointing at the cloud trail of a fast-moving rocket flying over Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs, Calif., on Monday evening.

“That looks amazing.”

Shortly after sunset on March 18, SpaceX launched a 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket that carried a payload of 22 Starlink communications satellites out of Vandenberg Space Force Base—64 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites is viewed from Palm Springs, Calif., on March 18, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

For SpaceX, it is the second Falcon 9 mission within the last week carrying Starlink satellites, according to officials, with the last launch occurring March 15 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

According to SpaceX, Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket, allowing the most expensive parts of the rocket to return to Earth after launch, driving down the cost of space access.

Elon Musk is the Chief Executive Officer of the aerospace company, which he co-founded in 2002 with engineer and rocket designer Tom Mueller.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites is viewed from Palm Springs, Calif., on March 18, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Last night’s mission was successful according to SpaceX, with all 22 satellites being released into orbit and Falcon 9’s rocket components safely returning. Sightings of the rocket were seen as far as the state of Arizona, according to local news networks.

To date, SpaceX has launched 310 Falcon 9 rocket missions since its first launch in 2010.

Reusable rocket components have seen a total of 241 refights, according to the SpaceX website.