http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/gallery/2010/11/09/mystery-missile-launch-off-california/#photo-1
Screen shots.
Those later screen shots look this projectile has multiple stages. Any estimates on altitude, speed yet?
Just talking to myself here. I have seen a number of missile launches, Nike-Herc and HAWKS on Okinawa. These things go up right smartly. IIRC the top speed of the Nike was somewhere around 3000 mph. No idea what the rate of acceleration was.
Near the “bottom” end of the “contrail” the wind distortion of it is quite obvious, but becomes less so with the “increase of altitude.” But still, with the rate of acceleration of the “missile” the “contrail” just does not look right.
In pic 10, there is a darker line more or less intersecting with the “missile”. This does not appear to be a cloud because of the wind direction. No idea what it might be. Just observing. Done talking with myself now. Have a great day.