I’ve spent 30 aears at Kennedy Space Center and at Cape Canaveral and I’ve watched more shuttle and expendable launches that you can imagine.
The contrail in question was not a fixed wing aircraft. Contrails begin to evaporate fairly soon after generation. Additionally, the exhaust trail in question has a shape, depth, density, and opacity that is totally alien to contrails.
Ladies/Gents, that is the exhaust trail of a solid propellant rocket; not a liquid fuelled rocket or aircraft contrail - SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKET.
Now, who launched it is another question.
THANKS THANKS.
Sure are a lot of folks who have relatively little to do with such things
who are convinced of their ‘expert’ level assessment skils.
Some I respect as still being quite smart blokes on average. Doesn’t mean they are brilliant about everything.
Much appreciate your VOICE OF LONG EXPERIENCE.
NOT always true! Look up 'persistent contrails.' They can grow in ice volume and last 20 hours or more. It depends upon the temperature and humidity.
Some do, some don't as has been shown by examples on FR and elsewhere. Depends on atmospheric/altitude variables. Here's an example of different effects and persistence:
Additionally, the exhaust trail in question has a shape, depth, density, and opacity that is totally alien to contrails.
Again, not so. Here's a quite similar one from a year prior:
I’ve spent 30 aears at Kennedy Space Center and at Cape Canaveral and I’ve watched more shuttle and expendable launches that you can imagine.
The contrail in question was not a fixed wing aircraft. Contrails begin to evaporate fairly soon after generation. Additionally, the exhaust trail in question has a shape, depth, density, and opacity that is totally alien to contrails.
Ladies/Gents, that is the exhaust trail of a solid propellant rocket; not a liquid fuelled rocket or aircraft contrail - SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKET.
Now, who launched it is another question.
Well said
From someone who would know
Now get yer dopey that’s-a-contrailer anti flame suit on ...
You also have to take into consideration the type of aircraft generating this contrail. UPS902 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11. The tri-engined class and their contrails have been fooling sky watchers for years.
Link to MD-11 image producing large non-persistent contrail
It is also worthy of note that Gil Leyvas also witnessed a similar event on the 4th November. On the 4th November UPS902 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 flying the exact same route and times. Was it purely coincidence, or was he fooled again by an MD-11 contrail at sunset?