Why a giant rocket just shot up over the skies of metro Phoenix

PHOENIX — It looked like a giant white comet shot across the Valley’s skies on Monday night.

It was actually a Falcon 9 rocket that SpaceX launched at around 7:30 p.m.

SpaceX launched the rocket, along with Starlink satellies, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The company also posted a video to social media showing the rocket lifting off.

Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/LSmvWvO6iV

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 19, 2024

The rocket was so huge it caused a stir in Phoenix, which is around 533 miles away from the base. Multiple Phoenicians took to X to share photos and videos of the rocket lifting up on the horizon.

@ktarnews Did you see the #SpaceX launch tonight? A listener caputed this video from Chandler? #viral #new #launch #sky #space #ktarnews ♬ Desperate – NEFFEX & NoCopyrightSounds

Traffic cameras with the Arizona Department of Transportation also picked up the rocket.

Even people in Tucson could see the rocket.

#SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch out of #Vandenberg, California. #Tucson pic.twitter.com/7imvdihWPM

— Dan Marries (@DanMarriesKOLD) March 19, 2024

SpaceX’s most recent update said the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

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