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How a Rocket Cloud Became Mauritius's Biggest UFO

The island's best-known mass sighting was traced to an illuminated propellant cloud from a Falcon 9 rocket stage.

27 sources 3 graphics

On this page

  • What witnesses saw across the region
  • How the rocket launch matched the sighting
  • Why high altitude clouds look extraordinary
Preview for How a Rocket Cloud Became Mauritius's Biggest UFO

Introduction

On the evening of 29 September 2013, thousands of people across Mauritius watched what appeared to be an enormous glowing orb surrounded by a pale halo drifting across the night sky. Social media quickly filled with photographs and speculation, and many observers wondered whether they were witnessing an unidentified flying object. The event became the island’s best-known modern UFO sighting, not because it remained unexplained, but because it was solved unusually well.

2013 Sighting illustration 1

Within days, astronomers and spaceflight specialists linked the display to the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket launched earlier that day by SpaceX from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. After placing its payload into orbit, the rocket’s upper stage performed a routine propellant venting operation. Sunlight striking the expanding cloud at very high altitude created a spectacular luminous halo visible across a huge area of the south-west Indian Ocean and southern Africa. The case is now regarded as one of the clearest examples of how a dramatic astronomical-looking event can produce widespread UFO reports without involving anything extraordinary.[Space]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

What witnesses saw across the region

The phenomenon became visible over Mauritius at approximately 9:00 pm local time. Witnesses described a brilliant white point surrounded by an expanding circular or oval cloud. Many said the object appeared almost motionless before slowly changing shape and fading over several minutes.

Reports shared several consistent characteristics:

  • A bright central “star” or “orb”.
  • A large glowing white halo or mist surrounding it.
  • Apparent slow movement despite the object being in orbit.
  • Visibility from many different parts of Mauritius simultaneously.
  • Observation times generally lasting between several minutes and around ten minutes.

The sighting was not confined to Mauritius. Similar observations were reported from Réunion, Madagascar, Mayotte, the Comoros, South Africa and other parts of the south-west Indian Ocean. This unusually broad geographical distribution became one of the strongest clues that the source lay at an extreme altitude rather than within the local atmosphere.[Space]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

Unlike many isolated UFO reports, this event produced numerous independent photographs and videos from widely separated locations, all showing essentially the same expanding luminous cloud.

6:01

Next Gen Falcon 9 | Demonstration Flight

Channel: SpaceX · Views: 328.6K · Uploaded: September 2013 · Length: 6 minutes

Open on YouTube

How the Falcon 9 launch matched the sighting

The timing of the event corresponded remarkably well with the maiden flight of the upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1, launched from California on 29 September 2013 carrying Canada’s CASSIOPE satellite and several secondary payloads.

After satellite deployment, the Falcon 9 upper stage carried out a standard safety procedure by venting its remaining propellant. This prevents pressure from building inside the tanks after the mission is complete.

Astronomers reconstructed the sequence using:

  • the recorded launch time,
  • the rocket’s orbital path,
  • the expected location of the upper stage,
  • witness reports from multiple countries,
  • and photographs showing the cloud’s changing appearance.

These independent lines of evidence all converged on the same explanation: observers were seeing the illuminated propellant cloud produced by the upper stage as it passed over the Indian Ocean roughly fifty minutes after launch.[space.com]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

SpaceX later confirmed that the upper stage had undergone a controlled propellant venting procedure, consistent with standard post-mission operations.[Space]space.comUpper Stage of New Falcon 9 Rocket Did Not Explode After Launch, SpaceX Says | Space…

Why the cloud looked so extraordinary

The appearance seems surprising only from ground level. In reality, several well-understood physical effects combined to produce an unusually dramatic display.

Sunlight above the Earth’s shadow

Although it was fully dark for observers in Mauritius, the rocket stage was hundreds of kilometres above Earth, where it remained illuminated by the Sun. The expanding gas therefore shone brightly against a dark sky, creating the impression of a glowing object suspended in space.[Space]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

Rapid expansion in near vacuum

At orbital altitude, released gases encounter extremely thin air. Instead of remaining a narrow exhaust plume, they spread rapidly into a huge cloud hundreds of kilometres across, producing the large circular halo seen in photographs.[Space]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

2013 Sighting illustration 2

Illusion of slow motion

Objects in low Earth orbit travel at around 7–8 kilometres per second, but because they are so distant, their motion across the sky appears surprisingly gentle. The expanding cloud further enhances the illusion that the object is hovering or drifting slowly.

Bright central point

The brilliant point at the centre was not an alien craft but the rocket stage itself reflecting sunlight while surrounded by its expanding cloud of vented propellant.

Why many people initially thought it was a UFO

The event possessed several characteristics commonly associated with UFO reports:

  • an unfamiliar appearance;
  • exceptional brightness;
  • silence;
  • apparent hovering;
  • unusual changes in shape;
  • no obvious aircraft navigation lights;
  • simultaneous observation by large numbers of people.

Without knowledge of a rocket launch taking place on another continent less than an hour earlier, the phenomenon naturally appeared mysterious.

The widespread reporting actually strengthened the ordinary explanation. If a relatively low-altitude object had been responsible, its appearance would have differed substantially between locations separated by hundreds or thousands of kilometres. Instead, observers across a vast region described nearly the same phenomenon, exactly as expected for an event occurring in orbit.[Space]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

1:41

SpaceX Falcon 9 Cassiope Launch 29 Sep 2013

Channel: Vandenberg Space Force Base · Views: 10.8K · Uploaded: September 2013 · Length: 1 minute 41 seconds

Open on YouTube

The local investigation and changing explanations

Immediately after the sighting, Mauritian authorities and meteorological services received numerous enquiries. Early suggestions included:

  • a meteor,
  • a comet,
  • an atmospheric phenomenon,
  • satellite re-entry,
  • or an unidentified flying object.

Meteorological observations showed no unusual weather conditions capable of producing such a halo. Amateur astronomers, the Astronomical Society of Mauritius and international observers gradually assembled evidence linking the event to the Falcon 9 launch. Subsequent orbital reconstructions matched the observed direction, timing and duration closely enough that the rocket explanation became widely accepted.[Le Mauricien]lemauricien.comOpen source on lemauricien.com.

Photographer captures strange spiral formation using all-sky camera

Channel: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Open on YouTube

Why this case matters in Mauritius’s UFO history

Among Mauritian UFO reports, the September 2013 event stands apart because it combines three features rarely found together:

  • many independent witnesses;
  • photographs and video from multiple locations;
  • a well-supported physical explanation.

Rather than weakening UFO research, the case demonstrates the importance of careful investigation. It shows how multiple independent observations, orbital data, launch records and scientific analysis can transform an apparently inexplicable sighting into a thoroughly understood event.

For the broader chronology of Mauritian sightings, the 2013 rocket cloud serves as a benchmark. Later reports can be compared against it to distinguish between incidents supported by independent evidence and those based only on isolated eyewitness testimony. It also illustrates why investigators routinely check rocket launches, satellite activity and other aerospace events before considering more exotic explanations.

Today, the 29 September 2013 sighting is regarded not as evidence of an unidentified craft, but as one of the most striking examples of a rocket-generated “space jellyfish” or illuminated propellant cloud producing a mass UFO report over Mauritius and the surrounding Indian Ocean.[space.com]space.comX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013…Published: September 30, 2013

2013 Sighting illustration 3

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Endnotes

1. Source: space.com
Title: X Rocket Launch Sparks ‘UFO’ Sightings: Reports (Video) | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/23013-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-ufo.html

Source snippet

SpaceX Rocket Launch Sparks 'UFO' Sightings: Reports (Video) | SpaceSeptember 30, 2013...

Published: September 30, 2013

2. Source: space.com
Link:https://www.space.com/23038-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-explosion-rumors.html

Source snippet

Upper Stage of New Falcon 9 Rocket Did Not Explode After Launch, SpaceX Says | Space...

3. Source: space.com
Title: Here’s how it works. Image: Image for Glowing Cloud of Roc
Link:https://www.space.com/28840-glowing-rocket-fuel-cloud-photo.html

Source snippet

Glowing Cloud of Rocket Fuel Captured in Night Sky Photo | SpaceMarch 26, 2015 — GLOWING CLOUD OF ROCKET FUEL CAPTURED IN NIGHT SKY PHOTO...

Published: March 26, 2015

4. Source: weather.com
Title: By SPACE.com•Octo
Link:https://weather.com/news/news/astronauts-see-strange-cloud-space-missile-launch-20131014

Source snippet

Astronauts See Strange Cloud in Space from Missile Launch | Weather.comOctober 21, 2013 — ASTRONAUTS SEE STRANGE CLOUD IN SPACE FROM MISS...

Published: October 21, 2013

5. Source: weather.gov
Link:https://www.weather.gov/ama/noctilucentclouds

6. Source: spacex.com
Title: Space X
Link:https://www.spacex.com/launches/cassiope

7. Source: space.com
Title: Huge UARS Satellite’s Fall From Space Captivates Skywatchers | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/13080-falling-uars-satellite-skywatching-hoaxes.html

8. Source: space.com
Title: Eerie Cloud Created by NASA Rocket Experiment | Space
Link:https://www.space.com/7315-eerie-cloud-created-nasa-rocket-experiment.html

9. Source: space.com
Link:https://www.space.com/archive/2013/9

10. Source: youtube.com
Title: Launch of Space X Falcon 9 v1.1 with CSA/MDA Cassiope
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a4NFeRuaEs

Source snippet

SpaceX Falcon 9 Cassiope Launch 29 Sep 2013...

11. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX0Gnid2E0E

Source snippet

Photographer captures strange spiral formation using all-sky camera...

12. Source: lemauricien.com
Link:https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/ciel-halo-mysterieux-du-29-septembre-l-explication-du-degazage-la-fusee-falcon-9-confirmee/89544/

13. Source: lemauricien.com
Title: Le Mauricien OVNI: Chercher ailleurs la vérité… | Le Mauricien
Link:https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/magazine/ovni-chercher-ailleurs-la-verite/89327/

Source snippet

OVNI: Chercher ailleurs la vérité… | Le MauricienOctober 10, 2013 — OVNI: CHERCHER AILLEURS LA VÉRITÉ… 10 Oct 2013 12h00 L’Objet Volant...

Published: October 10, 2013

14. Source: cloudynights.com
Title: Space X Falcon 9 fuel vent as seen from S Africa
Link:https://www.cloudynights.com/forums/topic/436734-spacex-falcon-9-fuel-vent-as-seen-from-s-africa/

15. Source: arstechnica.com
Title: Space X launches Falcon 9 v1.1, preps for reusable boost stage
Link:https://arstechnica.com/science/2013/09/spacex-launches-falcon-9-v1-1-preps-for-reusable-boost-stage/

16. Source: spaceflightnow.com
Link:https://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/130929launch/

Additional References

17. Source: straitstimes.com
Link:https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/magnificent-lights-over-sweden-likely-caused-by-rocket-fuel-tour-operator

Source snippet

November 14, 2016 — MAGNIFICENT LIGHTS OVER SWEDEN LIKELY CAUSED BY ROCKET FUEL: TOUR OPERATOR Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivere...

Published: November 14, 2016

18. Source: pbs.org
Title: In the winter of 214 BC
Link:https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/7-times-aliens-explained-science

Source snippet

7 times that science explained aliens | PBS NewsOctober 28, 2015 — * * * * * # 7 times that science explained aliens Science Oct 28, 2015...

Published: October 28, 2015

19. Source: reutersconnect.com
Link:https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/red-and-white-vapor-clouds-fill-the-skies-over-the-marshall-islands/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMTM6bmV3c21sX0dNMUU5NTgxUk1YMDE

20. Source: ibtimes.com.au
Link:https://www.ibtimes.com.au/ufo-sightings-space-x-falcon-9-california-launch-caused-ufo-sightings-southern-africa-indian-ocean

21. Source: youtube.com
Title: Next Gen Falcon 9 | Demonstration Flight
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU7Li5rX_OQ

Source snippet

Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 with CSA/MDA Cassiope...

22. Source: business.mega.mu
Title: mu Luminous Sphere Seen in the Sky: Astronomers’ Explanations
Link:https://business.mega.mu/2013/10/01/luminous-sphere-seen-sky-astronomers-explanations/

23. Source: youtube.com
Title: Photographer captures strange spiral formation using all-sky camera
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdD-rDh24Bg

24. Source: business.mega.mu
Title: mu Bright Sphere in the Sky: Causes Identified
Link:https://business.mega.mu/2013/10/02/bright-sphere-sky-causes-identified/

25. Source: cloudynights.com
Title: Eyewitness account of Space X booster failure
Link:https://www.cloudynights.com/forums/topic/436309-eyewitness-account-of-spacex-booster-failure/

26. Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com
Link:https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32946.380