How do glowing clouds form in the upper atmosphere after ballistic missile launches?

Arab Weather - When ballistic missiles or satellites are launched, especially at night or before dawn, unusual luminous clouds may appear as a result of fuel combustion in the upper layers of the atmosphere, such as the stratosphere or mesosphere, which lie at altitudes ranging from 30 to 100 kilometers. In these layers, the atmospheric pressure is very low, allowing the gases produced by combustion to expand rapidly and clearly, appearing to observers from Earth as a luminous, glowing cloud.

These clouds are often made up of water vapor or chemicals released from rocket fuel. Some types of fuel produce a glow of different colors, such as pink, purple, or white, depending on the chemical composition. Sunlight reflected in the upper layers of the atmosphere—even when Earth is in the dark of night—can also contribute to the illumination of these clouds, making them surprisingly visible.

In some cases, a rocket's partial disintegration or explosion may occur during flight, whether as a result of a malfunction or a defensive interception. This results in a sudden release of energy and gases, and the formation of a light cloud visible from Earth. Such phenomena can last for several minutes and arouse the curiosity of astronomers due to their unusual shape.

These phenomena are known scientifically as “rocket plume” or “exhaust cloud expansion.” They have been documented several times in various parts of the world, particularly during the launches of SpaceX rockets in the United States, or Korean and Chinese rockets in East Asia, where similar luminous clouds have been repeatedly observed.

Source: Dr. Ammar Al-Sakaji, President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society.