On Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 10:04 P.M., the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch with 28 Starlink satellites was visible racing across the night sky. It was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, located in Santa Barbara County, California. The launch is said to create a spectacular and widely visible exhaust plume described as the “space jellyfish.” Considering that not many students or staff were aware during this launch, the questions mostly asked whether they had seen the launch or if they would like to. Freshman Lina Infanzon said, “I have seen something like this, a spaceship launch on TV, and I would like to see one in person.” 

Due to the timestamp, it’s no surprise that a significant portion of La Jolla did not witness or hear this “space jellyfish.” This rocket made little to no impact throughout our night. Still, it did surprise many of the Santa Barbara residents since the SpaceX Falcon 9 made a couple of sonic booms throughout its journey. Many students wished they had witnessed this at least to see what it looked like, Freshman Alayna Casas said, “I have never seen a spaceship launch, but I would like to.” Lina and Alayna did not get the chance to see, as did many students throughout our campus, who have not experienced an aerospace event like this in action, an experience that proved unforgettable for those who did.