Elon Musk’s SpaceX Launched A Rocket That Lit Up California’s Night Sky

This is an overused exclamation of bewilderment anytime humans come face-to-face with an even slightly bizarre space-related occurrence, but I’m sure all of San Diego was wondering whether the mysterious bolt of light across the sky last night was a bird, a plane or, finally, Superman. In reality, that brilliant streak of white light was the two-stage Falcon9 booster, launched by business mogul Elon Musk’s SpaceX. On Dec 22, the reused SpaceX rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at about 5:30 PM local time, carrying 10 Iridium Next communication satellites. This space mission is historic - Elon Musk’s space company has now set a record for the most number of successful orbital launches in a year (18, in case you’re wondering). Not only did SpaceX beat competitor United Launch Alliance, it out-launched China that flew 16 rockets this year and almost equalled Russia that successfully launched 20.

But what does this record-breaking launch mean? SpaceX has already launched 40 Iridium Next communication satellites, over four missions, this year itself, with plans to launch an additional 35 satellites by mid-2018. According to SpaceX, and reported by KPBS, this system will offer a “next- generation communications platform” known as Certus. The $3 billion dollar Iridium Next constellation will replace the company’s existing constellation in what is being touted as “one of the largest technological upgrades in space.” To break this down, essentially, this system of satellites “represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster-relief efforts and more,” as reported by Space.com. SpaceX’s final launch in 2017, the re-use of Falcon9 also marks an important change in the ecosystem to drive down launch prices, reports Quartz. This is the fifth time SpaceX has one of its Falcon9 first stages, another first for Musk’s company. No other company currently operates a partially reusable orbital rocket.

While some people mistakenly wondered if the spectacular, blinding white light meant that aliens had finally come for us, others thought the end of the world was near. The reality was, in fact, the setting in motion of a giant leap towards a new-age communications system, as we rocket towards 2018.

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