SpaceX cargo launch creates ‘space jellyfish’ along East Coast
publishers 15articles 16first reported 13 Oct, 10:01 UTCdeveloping since 13 Oct · 12 editions
A SpaceX launch carrying supplies to the International Space Station produced a glowing “space jellyfish” visible along much of the U.S. East Coast early Tuesday.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:35 a.m. EDT on Oct. 13, launching a cargo Dragon spacecraft on SpaceX’s CRS-35 mission for NASA. The capsule carried about 6,300 pounds (2,860 kilograms) of cargo, including new solar arrays, according to Space.com and Spaceflight Now.
As the rocket followed a northward trajectory, its exhaust plume expanded in the thinner upper atmosphere and was illuminated by early dawn sunlight. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center said that combination created the bright, jellyfish-like shape seen near sunrise. Reports and photographs came from Georgia, North Carolina and other locations along the coast.
About 2.5 minutes after liftoff, stage separation and a booster engine burn added to the display. The first-stage booster then began its return toward a landing zone at Cape Canaveral, while the second stage continued toward orbit with Dragon. The spacecraft was expected to spend roughly two days catching up with the space station.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 6 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 6 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
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