Uploaded December 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
To the surprise of many, a spectacular event filled the southwestern sky tonight as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg Air Force base at 5:27pm Pacific Standard Time. These dusk launches can be quite a sight, and this event was no exception. For those of us that knew it was coming it was a great show. For anyone caught by surprise it may have looked like a Nuke from North Korea! Fortunately this rocket was only carrying 10 Iridium satellites, which are part of a new 75-satellite network that will provide massive global bandwidth for mobile communications as well as other functions (such as tracking aircraft and ships at sea to help avoid collisions, etc.).
Images were filmed with a tripod-mounted Canon 5D Mk2 using a 17-40mm f/4.0L lens and 4-second exposures at ISO 800.
The soundtrack is "Preparing for Launch" from the "Mission Control" CD by Technician (yours truly), MP3 album and single track available on iTunes at: itunes.apple.com/us/album/mission-control/id970180801 full artist discography and CDs available at HTTP://technician.jcmdi.com
Contains JCMDI video catalog #s: V23174,V23175
Vandenberg Air Force Base news and launch information: http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/
Note: The audio and video material contained herein is copyright 2017 JCM Digital Imaging, however, you may download this footage directly from YouTube and use it free of charge in your own non-profit/non-commercial YouTube videos, school projects, etc. The full free usage policy and YouTube copyright notice/ad info can be found here (please read before using JCMDI material): jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#freeusage jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#partner
To the surprise of many, a spectacular event filled the southwestern sky tonight as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg Air Force base at 5:27pm Pacific Standard Time. These dusk launches can be quite a sight, and this event was no exception. For those of us that knew it was coming it was a great show. For anyone caught by surprise it may have looked like a Nuke from North Korea! Fortunately this rocket was only carrying 10 Iridium satellites, which are part of a new 75-satellite network that will provide massive global bandwidth for mobile communications as well as other functions (such as tracking aircraft and ships at sea to help avoid collisions, etc.).
Images were filmed with a tripod-mounted Canon 5D Mk2 using a 17-40mm f/4.0L lens and 4-second exposures at ISO 800.
The soundtrack is "Preparing for Launch" from the "Mission Control" CD by Technician (yours truly), MP3 album and single track available on iTunes at: itunes.apple.com/us/album/mission-control/id970180801 full artist discography and CDs available at HTTP://technician.jcmdi.com
Contains JCMDI video catalog #s: V23174,V23175
Vandenberg Air Force Base news and launch information: http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/
Note: The audio and video material contained herein is copyright 2017 JCM Digital Imaging, however, you may download this footage directly from YouTube and use it free of charge in your own non-profit/non-commercial YouTube videos, school projects, etc. The full free usage policy and YouTube copyright notice/ad info can be found here (please read before using JCMDI material): jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#freeusage jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#partner
