Uh, if altitude is what made the difference between contrail and no-contrail please explain why it stopped creating a contrail at least 8 minutes before it dropped any altitude.
Well, obviously, based on all the data available, there must have been some change in atmospheric condition that caused it to stop leaving a contrail since it appears that an altitude change didn't cause it. That can happen, you know.
There was an actual missile launch from VAFB yesterday, someone should see if they can find photos of that to compare and contrast.