A Space X rocket produces a giant spiral over Alaska

19 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The launch of a Space X Falcon 9 rocket into polar orbit last weekend caused a giant spiral that appeared fleetingly in the night sky over Alaska.

The phenomenon was registered by aurora observers in the region, who published photos on social networks of a bluish-white spiral shape against the background of a green aurora.

The human origin of the phenomenon was explained by geophysicist Don Hampton, chief scientist at Poker Flat Rocket Range, a launching site for sounding rockets operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and from where the event was also recorded.

“Based on some similar events we’ve seen in recent years, we expected this to be due to a rocket launch,” Hampton said. it’s a statement. “We learned that SpaceX had launched one of its Falcon 9 rockets into polar orbit. about two hours beforeand watching a replay of their live broadcast, the trajectory was shown to pass right over Alaska.”

“The cloud appeared after the rocket had deployed all of its payloads, so it is likely that exhaust gas from burning rocket spilled by second stage over Pacific, or perhaps the expulsion of additional rocket fuel after that burn. The spiral pattern indicates that the second stage was spinning when it ran out of gases. Any water vapor would turn to ice at these altitudes, and the ice would reflect sunlight where the rocket was and make a bright cloud visible on the ground in Alaska, where the sun was well below the horizon. It looks pretty shiny in those photos, but it’s probably just a few gallons of water.“, he added.