A stunning celestial spectacle, dubbed a ‘jellyfish,’ graced the skies over Florida on October 13, 2026, as NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 mission began its journey to the International Space Station. This rare visual phenomenon occurred during the pre-dawn launch, when sunlight brilliantly illuminated the rocket’s exhaust plumes, creating an ethereal, jellyfish-like glow visible across the eastern United States.
A Mission for Science and Exploration
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying a vital payload of scientific investigations, essential supplies, and crucial equipment to the orbiting laboratory. This 35th commercial resupply mission underscores the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX in supporting continuous human presence and research aboard the ISS.
The Science Behind the Spectacle
The ‘jellyfish’ effect is a beautiful byproduct of rocket launches occurring near sunrise or sunset. When the sun’s rays hit the exhaust plume at a specific angle, they refract and scatter, causing the cloud of expelled gases to glow intensely. This particular launch, captured by photographer John Kraus, showcased the phenomenon in breathtaking detail, transforming the powerful ascent of the Dragon spacecraft into an artistic display against the dawn sky. The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft was scheduled to rendezvous and dock with the ISS on October 15.
Source: NASA
