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SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on January 11 at 5:44 AM PT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, named Twilight, aimed to place a payload into a dusk-dawn sun-synchronous orbit, allowing satellites to pass over the same parts of Earth at consistent local solar times.

This type of orbit is suitable for observational, climate, military reconnaissance, and communication satellites. The Falcon 9 flew south over the Pacific Ocean, typical for such polar missions. Around 6 PM CET, the rocket's upper stage and exhaust were visible in Croatia as a bright phenomenon resembling a light spiral, due to sunlight illuminating the spent fuel at high altitude while the ground remained dark. Thus, despite the launch location, this SpaceX mission visually impacted parts of Europe, including Croatia.