Incredible Rocket Plume & Expansion Waves Filmed Over California

Watch an amazing rocket plume and expansion waves created by a SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch we filmed on 10/07/2018 from Lockwood Valley, California. This is an uncut version of the complete sequence from start to finish. The launch took place from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Maria, California.Show more

In this uncut video sequence, the rocket to space and the reusable booster both create plumes. The booster also creates incredible expansion waves. The reusable booster can be seen shortly during its return to the launchpad.

What is a plume and what are expansion waves?

"...the nozzle must expand the high-pressure combusted fuel to a low-pressure exhaust at its exit plane – the maximum thrust is reached when the nozzle expands the combustion gases to the same pressure as the atmosphere outside the nozzle. Since the pressure in the atmosphere decreases dramatically for most of the launch the pressure at the nozzle exit is either higher or lower than the atmospheric pressure.Since the pressure in the atmosphere decreases dramatically for most of the launch the pressure at the nozzle exit is either higher or lower than the atmospheric pressure. This leads to an interesting phenomenon in the nozzle exit region plume. Since the plume is traveling at supersonic speeds relative to the external atmosphere the pressure difference produces shockwaves and expansion waves which in turn form areas of afterburning combustion in the plume." - http://blogs.esa.int/cleanspace/2016/03/01/what-happens-in-a-rocket-plume/

The camera is facing west and the rocket is heading south towards Mexico over the Pacific Ocean.

Rocket Launch plumes are very popular on the internet and television for use as evidence of alien UFOs visiting Earth. Especially television. Rocket plumes are common occurrences throughout the world, as many countries now send objects into space.

The purpose of this video is to provide UFO Investigators with a video reference, filmed first-hand by a UFO Investigator, to help dispel or reinforce conclusions about objects reported by witnesses or seen in "UFO" videos.

Destination Unknown by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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