SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink Group 11-8 Mission - VSFB - California

This image of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on 1/21/2025, carrying Starlink Group 11-8 payload - 27 separate satellites. Starlink is a space-based internet service provider aiming to provide global mobile broadband.
Even with the early morning launch time of 7:45 am, heat distortion was noticeable through the 11 miles from my shooting location to the SLC-4 launch pad. The RAW image was edited with Capture One 23 and ON1 Photo RAW, where basic adjustments by Capture One and additional Noise and Sharpness provided with ON1.
I used an adapted AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR on a Nikon Z8.