Streak of light sets social media abuzz; Russian rocket blamed

The body PHOENIX— of a Russian rocket that burned up as it entered the Earth’s atmosphere set off a wave of excitement on social media and fueled speculation over what caused the flash of light to shoot across the sky in the American West.

The fireball seen over Arizona, Nevada and California on Tuesday night was an SL-4 rocket body booster from Russia that launched Monday, U.S. Strategic Command spokeswoman Julie Ziegenhorn said.

U.S. and Russian officials declined to discuss the rocket’s use, but experts outside the government say it was launched as part of a project to bring materials to the International Space Station. They say the rocket’s body likely detached from the craft taking items into space and burned up as it started to go out of orbit.

“It’s not something people need to worry about,” said David Wright, a space-debris expert who is co-director of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

An unmanned Russian cargo ship lifted off Monday from that nation’s space launch complex in Kazakhstan on a journey to the space station. The craft, which carried fuel, water, food and other supplies, has since docked at the station.

People who witnessed the burning light posted photos and video on social media. Some speculated it was a meteor.

Others resorted to humor, punctuating their comments with a rocket emoji and saying the light across the sky looked Santa’s sleigh. Some people expressed distrust about the U.S. government’s comments.