BLAST XMAS Stars puzzled as tech guru launches r ocket

AN eerie shimmering plume streaks across the night sky – leaving a rush of UFO reports in its wake.

But the astonishing sight which caused alarm across California was neither ET dropping in for Christmas, nor an early surprise present from Kim Jong-un.

Catching the glow from the sun that had vanished just below the horizon, it was the latest launch from multi- billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX project.

But as it headed towards the heavens at 18,000mph, Los Angeles’ own stars took to social media to find out what was going on – with singers Will.i.am and Billy Ray Cyrus both begging to be enlightened.

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, 120 miles south of LA in San Diego, also pleaded: “What is this in the sky?”

The Falcon 9 rocket was launched from LA’s Vandenberg Air Force Base just after sunset, at 5.27pm – 1.27am in the UK.

Aura

It first appeared as a red light, but as i t gathered height Californians were in awe at the streak of light filling the clear sky.

It then created an aura around itself as it separated from its first-stage boosters. The rocket carried ten

satellites, which it successfully deployed in orbit – the world’s biggest ever upgrade for communications firm Iridium.

Musk, SpaceX founder and lead designer, posted a video of the rocket and joked: “Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea.”

Los Angeles Fire Department had to issue a statement urging people not to be alarmed.

Musk, 46, who made much of his fortune from online payments firm PayPal, is also boss of highend electric car maker Tesla.

He founded SpaceX in 2002 to “revolutionise space technology with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets”.

Next month a test rocket for his Mars mission will launch with a Tesla Roadster car on board.