Rocket Launch Lights Up Night Sky

LOS ANGELES, CA — An uncommon West Coast Rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base Thursday put on a light show above Southern California as SpaceX launched a Falcon 9, carrying internet satellites into low orbit.

The Falcon 9 rocket carried 20 Starlink internet satellites, according to SpaceX. The rocket launched at 9:30 p.m., after being pushed back an hour. The rocket and its arching contrail were illuminated amid the cloud cover creating a partial light show that could be seen for hundreds of miles across Southern California.

Follow along with the countdown and see the launch here.

Less than 10 minutes after launch, Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth.

"This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62 and two Starlink missions," SpaceX announced in a prepared statement. "Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean."

The launch was initially planned for Wednesday, but it was scrapped.

The SpaceX Starlink satellites orbit Earth between 300 and 350 miles up and deliver high-speed internet.

Most rocket launches take place from the East Coast because the Earth rotates from west to east, giving a rocket launching in an easterly direction the added benefit of the Earth's rotational speed.