From the footage Ive seen, it came right OUT of the ocean blazing all the way...check the video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/09/national/main7036716.shtml
Ellsworth says maybe the Pentagon is demonstrating to Asia that we have the capablity to launch a missle from a sub. Commeon! Getouttahere! Everyone knows we can do that! Everyone know China and Russia can do that, too!
From video and stills several mid course corrections can be seen. There seems to be some kind of guidance system going on here.
How long was it tracked? Did it fizzle out after the video shown, or keep on steaming out of sight or out of the atmosphere where we would lose the contrail?
There is a lot more exhaust flame than we would expect from a jet engine, which kind of rules out an aircraft.