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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket illuminates Southern California skies with a dazzling sunset spectacle: photos

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Alex Mead
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Apr 2, 2024

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, on April 1, 2024. The launch, delayed by four days, took place at 7:30 PM and provided residents of Southern California with a spectacular light show at sunset. The rocket carried 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.

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Falcon 9 rocket launching at night from pad 4E of Vandenberg Space Force Base
Falcon 9 launches from pad 4E of Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX

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Falcon 9 launches from pad 4E of Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Falcon 9 launches from pad 4E of Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California. Getty Images

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Falcon 9 rocket launching from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying 22 new Starlink satellites into space.
Falcon 9 launches from pad 4E of Vandenberg Space Force Base. SpaceX

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch flies above Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch flies above Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California. Getty Images

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ln the sky over Southern California as seen from Whitewater, CA.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ln the sky over Southern California as seen from Whitewater, CA. Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ln the sky over Southern California as seen from Encinitas, California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ln the sky over Southern California as seen from Encinitas, California. REUTERS

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch flies above Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch flies above Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
Getty Images

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it launches into low-Earth orbit over Southern California, April 1, 2024.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it launches into low-Earth orbit over Southern California, April 1, 2024. Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 22 Starlink satellites into space, seen from San Clemente, California.
Getty Images

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