Now you got it. Congradulations. That is what I noticed a few days after diving into the issue. Done deal for me. 100 % Missile.
Thank you! :^) Kanawa, see, I knew I didn't underestimate you, but you underestimated yourself, you sweetie! Your first impression was CORRECT. You and all FReepers who dare to truly study these photos side by side and analyze the light physics that prove a vertical launch, should TRUST your brain and have more confidence in your own abilitity to identify what you see. Granted, there is a sophisticated effort of folks trying to convince you of an impossibility. They're pretty smart .... but you're smarter.
Absolutely, one can ONLY be 100 % certain it was a vertical plume: the shaded side away from the setting sun is FACING EAST. On a contrail, the shaded side away from the setting sun is facing UP, where no human can see it unless they are in an aircraft ABOVE the contrail looking down.
The lighting in Leyvas' video proves with CERTAINTY a vertical launch and a north-west arcing trajectory. One hundred percent.