SpaceX cargo launch creates glowing ‘space jellyfish’ across southeastern skies
publishers 20articles 22first reported 13 Oct, 14:00 UTCdeveloping since 13 Oct · 8 editions
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch created a glowing, jellyfish-shaped plume visible across parts of Florida and southeastern Louisiana before dawn Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying a robotic Dragon capsule on CRS-35, SpaceX’s 35th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station under its agreement with NASA. The capsule carried thousands of pounds of supplies and scientific experiments, according to Space.com, and was scheduled to dock autonomously with the station’s Harmony module around 11 a.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 15.
Photos and reports of the plume came from locations across Florida, while WAFB reported that it was also seen over Grand Isle and southeastern Louisiana.
The effect occurs when water vapor and carbon dioxide in a rocket’s exhaust encounter the cold upper atmosphere and begin freezing into ice crystals. During launches near dawn or dusk, sunlight can illuminate the high-altitude exhaust plume even while the ground and lower sky remain dark. The combination produces the bright, spreading formation commonly called a “space jellyfish.”
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 27 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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