Observers across the western United States reported a bright white streak in the sky on Friday, Jan. 2. A FOX21 viewer in Pueblo West photographed the trail shortly before 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time, which matches a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch at 6:09 p.m. PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission delivered a COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation satellite for the Italian Space Agency and Ministry of Defence, and SpaceX warned some California counties of possible sonic booms. COSMO‑SkyMed satellites provide radar imaging for day‑and‑night, through‑cloud Earth observation.
Bright Sky Streak Over Colorado? It Was a SpaceX Falcon 9 Carrying COSMO‑SkyMed — Not Aliens
Did you see this light trail in the sky on Friday?
(COLORADO) — If you noticed a bright white streak arcing across the western Colorado sky on Friday, Jan. 2, there’s a straightforward explanation: a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch — not extraterrestrials.
A FOX21 News viewer, Robert, sent a photo taken shortly before 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time showing a long, luminous trail visible from Pueblo West. That timing matches the Falcon 9 liftoff at 6:09 p.m. Pacific Standard Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, which would appear roughly an hour later across the Mountain Time Zone.
What Caused the Light Trail
The visible streak was almost certainly the rocket’s ascent and upper‑stage plume illuminated by sunlight after sunset. The launch — carrying a COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation satellite — was reported visible across much of the western United States, with similar photos shared online from cities including Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Courtesy: FOX21 News viewer Robert
Sonic Booms and Local Warnings
Residents nearer the flight path in coastal California were warned by SpaceX that they might hear one or more sonic booms as the vehicle passed downrange. Warnings specifically mentioned Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties.
About the Payload
SpaceX said the mission carried a COSMO‑SkyMed Second Generation satellite launched on behalf of the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence. COSMO‑SkyMed satellites use radar imaging that can observe the Earth day or night and through cloud cover to support environmental monitoring, disaster response and national security applications.
If you spotted the streak and photographed it, local news outlets and social media continue to collect viewer images. For more breaking local reports, visit FOX21 News Colorado.
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