Iridium Launch 12/23/17
 

Watched the countdown and launch online last night before running out to my front porch around 20 seconds in to see it live. Nothing beats a just after sunset launch for spectacle.

Even though SpaceX dumped the first stage in the ocean, they still equipped it with maneuvering paddles and ran through the landing sequence though there was no barge and no landing tripod’s on the rocket. You could see the first stage doing maneuvering burns after separation.

The money shot below is around 1:25:30 when the 9th of 10 satellites deploy and blocks the sun showing 5 of the previous statelites. I can’t believe I live when you can watch stuff like this live.

Living up in Big Bear, in the mountains, you could really see it clear.