Minotaur Rocket Launch
25 Sept. 2010

This is a time-lapse (i.e. sped up) view of a launch of a Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg AFB, with a classified payload destined for near polar orbit. The rocket travels from right to left (north to south), and looks like it's going to be intercepted by another rocket, but that is actually just a local aircraft. The flashes on the horizon on the left are from the nightly fireworks show at Disneyland and not the rocket impact! The satellite launch was successful according to official reports. Unfortunately the launch occurred so far after sunset that we did not get the nice light show that happens when the sun catches the rocket trail as it dissipates in the upper atmosphere.