NASA Wallops explains pink “cloud” in the sky

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. –

NASA Wallops Island is explaining a large pink cloud seen in the sky across Delmarva Wednesday evening. Officials say it was all part of a suborbital sounding rocket launched Wednesday afternoon.

The launch is to study ionization in space just beyond the reaches of Earth’s atmosphere. Officials explain the rocket flew up several hundred miles and about 500 miles off-shore, then released a small quantity of vapor. The vapor is what many Delmarvans saw in the sky, created that mysterious looking cloud. NASA says there was no danger to the public.