I'll make the same point to you. You didn't watch the FULL VIDEO because no one but the staff at KCBS has seen it.
The VIDEO shown to the PUBLIC is a very short (around 2 minutes) and highly edited video. During the filming, the helicopter changed it's altitude several times by several thousand feet, to try and deal with the unusual lighting conditions from the setting sun, which illuminated the contrail. In the video, they even loop some of the scenes twice. I noticed this the FIRST time I watched it. I also noticed the lighting changes, which were not consistent with the 'supposed continuity' of filming you are being led to believe.
DUE TO THESE FACTS, it is not possible to tell, from watching the ONLY VIDEO they have released to the public (2 min version), whether it is a missile or aircraft, and the editing and process of filming (a moving viewpoint, not a fixed position) make it appear like a missile.
I don't blame people for believing it's a missile, based on the video KCBS released.
But, the facts have come out, and the 'editing' has been exposed, and the flight that produced the contrail identified, so...
Actually, you can tell it is NOT a missile from the from the very beginning of the CBS video clip. It shows the contrail billowing out without any bright glare of rocket exhaust. If you look at any other footage of a rocket launch, Polaris, Trident, Atlas, etc., there is a bright white flame of rocket exhaust visible at all times. Later the CBS footage shows a red glow at the head of the contrail, which is obviously the reflection of setting sun on the aircraft's wings and body.
You don't need to rely on "expert" opinion. Just go onto youtube and look at rocket launch footage and compare with the CBS footage.
I watched the full video referred to in the post I replied to...