Dying SpaceX rocket creates glowing, galaxy-like spiral in the middle of the Northern Lights – Space.com
A massive swirl of bright white light seemingly appeared from out of nowhere in the night sky above the Arctic last week, briefly upstaging a vibrant aurora display that spanned thousands of miles.
The ethereal, galaxy-shaped light show was caused by an illuminated cloud of frozen fuel that was dumped in space by a SpaceX rocket, which released dozens of satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Astronomers call this rare phenomenon a "SpaceX spiral," and expect them to become a much more common sight in the future.
Related: Eerie blue spiral in night sky over Hawaii spawned by SpaceX rocket
On March 4, at 5:05 p.m. EST, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The rocket was part of the Transport-10 mission and was carrying 53 satellites belonging to several different commercial space companies, which were successfully released into orbit around our planet around two hours after launch, Space.com reported.
Shortly after payload deployment, the rocket's second stage, which had already separated from the rocket's reusable first-stage booster, began to de-orbit and later burned up in the atmosphere above the Barents Sea in the Arctic. During this maneuver, the spinning rocket dumped its remaining fuel into space, which then froze into tiny crystals that spread out in a spiral shape and reflected sunlight to Earth.
Related: Ethereal halo of light around full moon spotted during recent SpaceX rocket launch
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
Aurora photographer Shang Yang captured a stunning photo of the illuminated swirl near the town of Akureyri in Iceland at around 1 a.m. local time on March 5. "It looked otherworldly against the Northern Lights," Shang told Spaceweather.com. The spectacle lasted for around 10 minutes before dissipating.
The whirlpool of light was also captured during an aurora livestream in Iceland, and was photographed in Finland and in Norway, where it had a striking blue color.
SpaceX spirals are rare. But they are becoming more common as the number of SpaceX launches increases.
In April 2023, a stunning blue SpaceX spiral photobombed an aurora display above Alaska. The phenomenon has also been spotted twice by a camera attached to the Subaru Telescope on Hawaii's Mauna Kea: first in April 2022 and again in January last year.
The spirals do not appear after every launch, for several reasons including the spin rate of the booster, time of day and the orientation of the rocket compared to Earth and the sun. This makes it hard to tell when they will be visible.
However, astrophotographer Olivier Staiger correctly predicted that the Transport-10 mission would produce a spiral above the Arctic, Spaceweather.com reported. He realized that the rocket's varied payload would require it to spin more than normal during deployment, which would mean it would still be spinning fast when it dumped its fuel.
Staiger also predicts that there will be another strong SpaceX spiral above Iceland and other parts of the Arctic when the Transporter-12 mission launches in October this year.
Here is the original post:
- Russia warns United States: use of SpaceX for spying makes its satellites a target - Reuters - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- NASA is struggling to compete with Bezos, Musk and their 6-figure salaries for starting aerospace engineers at Blue Origin and SpaceX - Fortune - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX launches its 30th Dragon cargo mission to the ISS (video) - Space.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Dragon soars from Cape Canaveral's pad 40 on SpaceX's 30th cargo mission to the Space Station Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Following Safe Return, NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 to Recount Space Mission - NASA - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX to sell satellite laser links that speed in-space communication to rivals - Reuters - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX to launch 30th cargo mission to the ISS for NASA this week - Space.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- See photos from around LA of the SpaceX rocket launch - NBC Southern California - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- NASA Science, Hardware Aboard SpaceX's 30th Resupply Launch to Station - NASA - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- NRLB: SpaceX retaliated against employees who raised concerns about wages, working conditions - Washington Times - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX rocket launch: Coffee, cherry tomatoes heading to space station - Florida Today - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX's evening Starlink launch wows West Coast skywatchers (photos) - Space.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- What was in the sky? SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch spotted from Arizona - The Arizona Republic - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX's Successful Launch, Devin's AI Teaching AI and other top stories - Mashable - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX to launch 30th resupply mission for NASA - News 13 Orlando - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Whee! Zip down from the launch tower in SpaceX's new emergency-escape slide (video) - Space.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- What was in the sky over Phoenix last night? What to know about SpaceX rocket launch - The Arizona Republic - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 30th resupply mission to ISS - WESH 2 Orlando - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Caltech receives $100-million gift to develop new technologies at the speed of SpaceX - Los Angeles Times - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Space station-bound Dragon supply capsule filled with everything from experiments to coffee - UPI News - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX finally manages Kennedy Space Center launch with record-tying booster - Phys.org - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX launches mission to International Space Station from Florida - WFLA - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Opinion | Elon Musks Starlink and SpaceX play too big a federal role - The Washington Post - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX Would Rather Use A Ford F-150 Lightning Than Cybertruck - Jalopnik - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- SpaceX's Giant Starship Tapped to Launch Starlab's Giant Steel Space Station - Gizmodo - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Second Falcon 9 of the night carries Starlink satellites from West Coast Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Starlab commercial space station to launch on Starship - SpaceNews - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Texas parks department agrees to delay SpaceX land exchange deal after public says process was rushed - Texas Standard - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft on its way to the Space Station Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Predicting SpaceX's 2024 Revenue - Payload - Payload - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX gearing up to launch private moon lander in February - Space.com - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Cygnus Cargo Ship Launching on SpaceX Rocket Live on NASA TV - NASA Blogs - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceXs Starship Rocket to Launch the Starlab Commercial Space Station - Via Satellite - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Cygnus Lifts Off Atop SpaceX Rocket to Deliver Station Cargo - NASA Blogs - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- What You Need to Know about NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 Mission - NASA - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Watch SpaceX launch of NASA International Space Station cargo mission live on Tuesday - USA TODAY - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX launches UF/IFAS microbiology experiment to ISS - University of Florida - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- NASA and Boeing announced the assignments for its SpaceX Crew-9 Space Station Mission - WFTV Orlando - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX's Starship Selected to Launch Starlab Space Station - FLYING - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket modified for Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo launch on Jan. 30 - Space.com - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Hawthorne-based SpaceX launches two missions on two coasts over the weekend - LA Daily News - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Northrop Grumman supply ship launches with SpaceX to International Space Station Tuesday - Fox Weather - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launches spacecraft to the International Space Station: See the best pictures - Wonderwall - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Cygnus Soars on SpaceX Rocket to Resupply International Space Station - SciTechDaily - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX Starlink 6-38 mission launches Falcon 9 booster on 18th flight - Florida Today - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Elon Musk and SpaceX are right about the National Labor Relations Board being unconstitutional, argues Trader Joes - Fortune - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX to dispatch Northrop Grumman's NG-20 mission via Falcon 9 on January 30th SatNews - SatNews - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman resupply mission to ISS - News 13 Orlando - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX Falcon 9s to launch Sunday-Tuesday, including ISS NG-20 mission - Florida Today - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Watch SpaceX launch Cygnus cargo ship to space station - Olean Times Herald - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX Launches Northrops Cygnus Cargo Ship To ISS - Aviation Week - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- NASA, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman team up on International Space Station cargo resupply launch - Florida Today - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX bought a Boeing 737 with strange livery - Business Insider - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX acquires a B737-800 - ch-aviation - January 31st, 2024 [January 31st, 2024]
- SpaceX launches third Axiom mission to ISS - SpaceNews - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX launch today: Rocket set for liftoff in Ax-3 mission to ISS - USA TODAY - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- What time is the SpaceX Ax-3 astronaut launch for Axiom Space? How to watch it live today - Space.com - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Axiom crew bound for International Space Station - CBS News - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Watch SpaceX's Ax-3 astronaut mission arrive at ISS early Jan. 20 - Yahoo News - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- This Startup Aims to Rival SpaceX With Reusable Rockets - The Wall Street Journal - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Coverage of the Rendezvous and Docking of the SpaceX Dragon Freedom and the Axiom-3 Crew - NASA (.gov) - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Updates: Axiom Space Ax-3 astronaut mission launches Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC - Florida Today - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Launch Date Adjusted; Crew Harvests Plants and Conducts Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- First all-European private astronaut mission launches on SpaceX Dragon from Florida - Fox Weather - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Watch SpaceX launch four astronauts to the International Space Station - TheStreet - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX's Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space - Space.com - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX, Axiom Space target launch with all-European crew on Thursday evening - Fox Weather - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- 'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video) - Space.com - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Texas Parks and Wildlife wants to give SpaceX over 40 acres of state park land - Texas Public Radio - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX says propellant venting caused loss of second Starship - SpaceNews - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX flight successfully docks at International Space Station - Yahoo News Canada - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- List of SpaceX launches 2024 - Space Explored - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Environmental experts express concern about SpaceX after company's second test flight results in further damage to ... - The Cool Down - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- UPDATE 2: Success as SpaceX transports first humans for 2024 with Axiom's first all European commercial astronauts ... - SatNews - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX Has Nothing to Fear From Vulcan Launch. Heres Why. - Barron's - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX in Axiom Mission 3, aims microgravity research on ISS - Interesting Engineering - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- Axiom and SpaceX are disrupting Europe's traditional pathway to space - Ars Technica - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX, Axiom Space successfully launch first crewed mission of 2024 from Florida - FOX 35 Orlando - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX: Axiom-3 astronaut launch pushed to Thursday at Cape Canaveral - Florida Today - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
- John Deere, SpaceX team up to help farmers - Wichita - KWCH - January 20th, 2024 [January 20th, 2024]
Tags: