Alex, what a coincidence - I spent about 6 years at the Kumkol oilfield in Kazakstan, about 200 km NE of Baikonur, where the Russians launch to space. I saw several launches. Daylight launches we could just see a vapour trail. Night launch is more visual but still nothing like the photo above...

somehow, that photo reminds me of aurora borealis, although I've never seen anything so symetrical before.

I have seen mirages many times in the desert, so I know that light & distance can do strange things.