Overview

• Eyewitnesses across a broad swath of the U.S. East Coast, from Ramsey, New Jersey, to the Finger Lakes region and northern Ohio, captured a glowing, pill-shaped orb and shared it on social media.
• Space.com and United Launch Alliance releases attributed the light to the Vulcan Centaur’s exhaust plume following a launch shortly before 9 p.m. from Cape Canaveral.
• The rocket carried the Air Force Research Laboratory’s NTS-3 satellite, an experimental platform designed to test position, navigation and timing capabilities that can withstand jamming and contested conditions.
• United Launch Alliance noted that Tuesday’s flight featured one of the longest mission profiles to date for the Vulcan Centaur, with upper-stage venting visible over several hours.
• Analysts point out that similar optical effects from rocket plumes have triggered UFO speculation in past launches, underscoring recurring patterns of public curiosity.