From Orlando Sentinel · · 1m 50s
Space jellyfish makes tiny encore as weather clears for SpaceX launch
SpaceX launch creates brief space jellyfish effect visible across U.S. East Coast.
In brief
SpaceX launch creates brief space jellyfish effect visible across U.S. East Coast. SpaceX's CRS-35 mission created a short-lived space jellyfish effect visible from Florida to Washington, D.C. after a Falcon 9 launch at 6:33 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. Originally reported by Orlando Sentinel.
Space jellyfish effect
SpaceX launch created a small space jellyfish effect visible across the eastern United States.
“Space jellyfish makes tiny encore as weather clears for SpaceX launch”
Launch details
SpaceX Falcon 9 launched at 6:33 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“After the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company's Dragon spacecraft atop, at 6:33 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as part of the company's 35th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station for NASA”
Mission purpose
Dragon spacecraft delivers 6,300 pounds of science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.
“Dragon will deliver about 6,300 pounds of science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station”
Jellyfish formation
Rocket exhaust plumes illuminated by sunlight created a glowing jellyfish-like shape visible from Florida to Washington, D.C.
“the rocket's exhaust plumes, illuminated by sunlight against the predawn sky, created a glowing jellyfish-like shape”
Second launch
SpaceX launched a second rocket at 7:04 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 with a shorter-lived jellyfish effect.
“The newest jellyfish came minutes after a Falcon 9 rocket on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission carrying 32 payloads took flight from Cape Canaveral Space Forde Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:04 a.m. just 22 minutes before sunrise”
First stage recovery
Falcon 9's first stage made its 19th trip to space with a recovery landing on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship.
“The first-stage booster for this mission made its 19th trip to space with a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic”
Starfall system
SpaceX's Starfall system will make a re-entry shortly after launch to provide short-term microgravity effects.
“Among the payloads is SpaceX’s Starfall system, which will make a re-entry shortly after launch. It’s designed to carry customer payloads that seek just short-term microgravity effects”
Rideshare payloads
32 payloads including communication and navigation satellites for various companies were carried on the Bandwagon-5 mission.
“Among the other rideshare customers on board are communication and navigation satellites for a variety of companies”
Launch frequency
SpaceX has flown 60 launches from Florida in 2026, down from 109 in 2025 as it focuses on Starship development.
“This was the 60th launch from all providers in 2026 from the Space Coast, with SpaceX having flown all but seven of those. SpaceX, though, has dialed back its Florida-based launch plans, which led to a record 109 launches from all providers in 2025, as it focuses on building up its Starship and Super Heavy launch tower at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A”
Other providers
United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin have limited launch schedules for 2026 with ULA aiming for a December mission.
“United Launch Alliance is still trying to return to the launch pad before the end of the year with its Vulcan rocket working through issues seen on its last flight earlier this year. ULA’s Atlas V, though, could beat Vulcan, which has only flown four times, as Boeing’s Starliner might be ready to fly as early as this December for an uncrewed mission to the space station, according to NASA. ULA last flew on July 2”
NASA mission
NASA's Artemis II lunar flyby mission launched on April 1 with SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft.
“NASA flew the other launch, with the flight of its Space Launch System rocket topped with the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II lunar flyby mission taking off from KSC’s LC-39B on April 1”
Next steps
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will update Artemis II mission progress in a press conference from KSC this Friday.
“NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is slated to update that mission’s progress in a press conference from KSC this Friday”
What it means
SpaceX's CRS-35 mission created a short-lived space jellyfish effect visible from Florida to Washington, D.C. after a Falcon 9 launch at 6:33 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.
