The rocket launched at 7:21 p.m. from the Santa Barbara County base.
It had an Argentinian Earth-observation satellite aboard its Falcon 9 Rocket, and everything from the launch to deploying the satellite to landing the rocket happened within a 15-minute span.
Anyone else currently see that SLOW moving bright light in the western sky?! pic.twitter.com/AAC5BrJ1NI
— Drew Tuma (@DrewTumaABC7) October 8, 2018
It was the aerospace company's first landing on the West Coast.
The Air Force last week advised residents on the central California coast they might see multiple engine burns by the first stage and hear one or more sonic booms as it returned.
People all over the Bay Area and Southern California captured stunning videos and photos of the rocket as it shot through the atmosphere. It created a bright swirl of blue and white lights across the sky.
For a hot second I thought it was a UFO.
— Drew Tuma (@DrewTumaABC7) October 8, 2018
Pic of @SpaceX #Falcon9 cruising over the Peninsula this evening. Wicked cool. pic.twitter.com/M4w3jTKWv0
Great shot of @SpaceX launch from viewer Evan Rosario in San Jose! 🚀 #SpaceX 😲 https://t.co/0MztaPPFjE pic.twitter.com/rioWGPS2yT
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) October 8, 2018
Yes! In San Carlos pic.twitter.com/nrlvuDdaMW
— Aspen Little (@aspenlittle) October 8, 2018
@abc7newsbayarea so. This is an unidentifiable flying object in Richmond pic.twitter.com/xyt3bfVAXf
— no olvidés (@monitwokayz) October 8, 2018
People in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties could hear sonic booms from the launch. Elon Musk himself tweeted "This won't be subtle."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.