i live on the coast of california, south of vandenberg air force base - which is also on the coast.

vandenberg launches military rockets that carry a variety of payloads, mainly secret spy stuff.

when one knows when the launch will occur - on the net, just look around - and can spend the time waiting for the rocket to go up, and if the flight is in daylight, and if the sun is out and if there are no clouds, and if the viewing angle is just right, you can see the trail - which is the spent rocket fuel - in a variety of colors. it is beautiful. i have seen it as it spreads across the sky. but it doesn't occur frequently as described - there are a lot of ifs.

google in 'google images' for 'rocket trail' for examples.

and i could understand a rocket spinning out of control spewing the spent fuel - as in the photo.