Brief
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch creates glowing “jellyfish” display over eastern U.S.
The early‑morning launch from Cape Canaveral produced a sunrise‑illuminated plume while carrying supplies and research to the ISS.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT on Oct 13, 2026 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, creating a bright “jellyfish” plume visible across the eastern United States, ScienceDaily reported.
The phenomenon occurs when sunlight strikes the expanding exhaust at high altitude, making the plume shine against the darker sky below. The launch was SpaceX’s 35th commercial resupply mission for NASA, carrying over 6,300 pounds of cargo, including the final set of International Space Station Roll‑Out Solar Arrays scheduled for installation later in the fall.
Among the scientific payloads were hardware for artificial‑retina manufacturing, 3‑D heart‑tissue models for drug testing, a glass‑formation study, and brain organoids aimed at advancing treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
Key facts
- The Falcon 9 launched at 6:33 a.m. EDT on Oct 13, 2026 from Cape Canaveral. (sciencedaily.com)
- The launch produced a sunrise‑illuminated “jellyfish” plume visible across the eastern U.S. (sciencedaily.com)
- The Dragon capsule carried over 6,300 pounds of cargo, including final Roll‑Out Solar Arrays. (sciencedaily.com)
- Experiments onboard include artificial‑retina hardware, 3‑D heart tissue models, glass formation study, and brain organoids. (sciencedaily.com)
Sources
- [1] sciencedaily.com — originally reported as “NASA’s SpaceX launch lights up the sky with a giant glowing jellyfish”
