Purchasing through links in our articles may earn Future and its syndication partners a commission.
The giant luminous streak was visible in at least seven different states and hung in the night sky for around 10 minutes. | Credit: Mike Lewinski
Witnessing a Stunning Light Show
A breathtaking streak of white light that resembled the auroras recently illuminated the night sky across several U.S. states after a Chinese rocket successfully deployed half a dozen satellites into orbit. Experts note that this spectacular event was initiated when the rocket released a novel type of fuel into space shortly before reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
The luminous display was first spotted at approximately 1:24 a.m. ET on a Saturday and remained visible for around 10 minutes. Observers across at least seven states—Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington, and New Mexico—managed to catch glimpses of this striking phenomenon, while reports suggest it may have been seen even further away, according to Spaceweather.com.
Photographer Mike Lewinski captured stunning images of the bright streak from Crestone, Colorado, and managed to document the entire event via timelapse footage. Additionally, Jay Shaffer, another photographer, showcased an impressive long-exposure shot of the streak taken in Taos County, New Mexico.
Explaining the Phenomenon
In various locations, the streak appeared alongside auroras triggered by a G2-class geomagnetic storm. Earlier that evening, a cloud of charged particles released by the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, made contact with Earth’s magnetic field, giving rise to these auroral displays. This led many witnesses to mistakenly identify the white streak as the aurora-like phenomenon known as STEVE, which creates beautiful ribbons of light in the night sky.
However, the light experienced was actually the aftermath of a Zhuque-2E rocket launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China at around 12:12 a.m. ET. This rocket was tasked with deploying six satellites, each showcasing various scientific instruments, prior to its incineration in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Misunderstandings About the Light Show
Related: 10 bizarre phenomena that lit up the sky (and their scientific explanations)
Initially, there was considerable debate regarding how the rocket’s actions resulted in such a captivating light show. Spaceweather.com representatives suggested the white streak could have been caused by a de-orbit burn or a circularization burn for the satellite deployment.
Some speculated that the light might have originated from the rocket’s second stage as it burned up upon reentry, while others theorized it could have been an “ionospheric hole,” created when rocket fuel reacts with atmospheric chemicals, resulting in streaking lights similar to auroras.
However, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer tracking satellite launches and reentries, later clarified that the light show was created by a “fuel dump” occurring at approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) above the Earth, right before the rocket de-orbited. The ejected fuel froze into tiny crystals trailing behind the rocket, reflecting sunlight onto Earth and illuminating the night sky.
The Zhuque-2E rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at around 12:12 a.m. ET. | Credit: LandSpace
Understanding the Zhuque-2E Rocket
The Zhuque-2E rocket is a state-of-the-art, single-use orbital launch vehicle developed by the Chinese company LandSpace. Standing approximately 160 feet (50 meters) tall, it is capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms) into low-Earth orbit (LEO), which extends up to 1,200 miles (2,000 km) above the surface where most satellites operate.
Diverging from traditional rockets that often rely on hydrogen or kerosene fuels, the Zhuque-2E utilizes a unique hybrid fuel made from liquid oxygen and liquid methane, commonly referred to as “methalox.”
The Advances in Rocket Fuel Technology
In July 2023, the previous version of this rocket, the Zhuque-2, became the first methane-fueled rocket to successfully reach LEO, marking a significant milestone ahead of other competitors like SpaceX, which also employs methalox in its massive Starship rocket but has not yet achieved full orbital flight. China has launched four methane-powered rockets into space successfully.
Methane serves as an advantageous rocket fuel due to its easier storage capabilities and cleaner combustion compared to hydrogen or kerosene. Furthermore, it holds potential for production on other planets, such as Mars, making it an ideal candidate for future solar system exploration ventures.
