LONDON, March 25, 2025: A mysterious glowing spiral that lit up the night sky across parts of England, Wales, and even mainland Europe on Monday evening has been traced back to a SpaceX rocket launch in the United States.
The spiral formation, visible for several minutes before gradually fading, sparked intrigue and awe among stargazers. Experts now believe it was created by a Falcon 9 rocket launched from Florida as part of a classified U.S. government mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.
How Did the Spiral Form?
The Falcon 9, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is a reusable launch vehicle designed to carry payloads—such as satellites—into orbit. After releasing its payload, the rocket begins its return trajectory toward Earth.
As part of this return process, the rocket ejects any leftover fuel, which freezes instantly at high altitudes. The rocket’s rotation and movement during descent cause the frozen fuel to form a spiral shape. When sunlight reflects off the frozen particles, the spiral becomes briefly visible from Earth.
Sightings Across the UK and Europe
The striking phenomenon was widely photographed and shared on social media from various locations across England, Wales, and parts of Europe.
Astronomer Allan Trow, who observed the spectacle from Wales’s Bannau Brycheiniog National Park at approximately 8:00 PM local time, said:
“I’ve seen this before about four years ago, but these are pretty rare. It’s quite likely this was caused by the SpaceX launch.”
SpaceX confirmed via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the launch was indeed a classified National Reconnaissance Office mission, supported by a statement from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Not an Uncommon Phenomenon – But Still Rare
While glowing spirals caused by rocket launches have been recorded in the past, they remain rare, especially over European skies. Similar events have been spotted in locations such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Scandinavia, often linked to rocket exhaust dispersing in the upper atmosphere.
These occurrences provide spectacular visual evidence of modern space activity and highlight the growing global visibility of commercial space missions like those undertaken by SpaceX.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.