Gallery
Your photos: Did you see SpaceX rocket over Suffolk’s skies?
SpaceX could be seen moving across the skies for a few minutes. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (NAME SUPPLIED) - Credit: Archant
Nasa launched two astronauts into space with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket tonight - but did you see it move steadily across the skies of Suffolk? The launch of the spacecraft at 8.22pm UK time meant it was too light to see its first pass over the skies.
But as it got darker, people looking out of their windows and standing in their gardens could see an object r movingly speedily across the sky from west to east.
It was visible for a few minutes as it moved on its way to the International Space Station.
Suffolk residents had their binoculars and cameras at the ready, with some getting pictures - even if its distance thousands of miles away meant it looked like only a fast dot in the sky.
US president Donald Trump called the launch an “inspiration”, while British astronaut Tim Peake said: “What a great launch and congratulations @SpaceX on making history.”
The mission, named Demo-2, has made Elon Musk’s SpaceX the first private company to send humans into space, ushering in a new era of commercial space travel.
According to Nasa, the aim of the mission is to show SpaceX’s ability to ferry astronauts to the space station and back safely.
Most Read
- 1 'Peaceful' Suffolk coastal town named one of the best in the UK
- 2 Sainsbury's and Harvester evacuated after fire breaks out
- 3 Weather warning for thunderstorms in Suffolk extended
- 4 More than 550 homes without power as fallen tree takes down overhead cables
- 5 Three supercars pulled over in village for having no front number plates
- 6 Village set for 33 new homes after planners approve project
- 7 Suffolk brand worn by pop star Ed Sheeran opens new store
- 8 Stu says: Six observations following MK Dons victory
- 9 'Absolutely awful': Anger as rubbish left dumped near beauty spot
- 10 Weather warning as thunderstorms expected to hit Suffolk after heatwave
It had been due to launch on Wednesday but the mission was aborted less than 17 minutes before launch, over concerns that the event could trigger lightning.