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SpaceX launch lights up skies over Florida and Georgia with rare ‘jellyfish’ cloud

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Ninfa Saavedra (via Click2Houston)

A SpaceX rocket launch created a glowing, jellyfish-shaped cloud in the early morning sky over parts of Florida and Georgia, catching the attention of people who looked up Tuesday.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT on Oct. 13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA’s CRS-35 mission to deliver supplies and scientific research to the International Space Station.

The unusual sight was reported across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, according to News4JAX (WJXT), which shared photos and videos of the glowing plume.

The striking formation is caused by sunlight illuminating the rocket’s exhaust high in the atmosphere while the ground below is still dark.

According to News4JAX, the exhaust from the rocket’s upper stage is made up largely of water vapor and carbon dioxide. When sunlight hits the plume before sunrise, it can create a glowing, expanding cloud that resembles a jellyfish.

The effect is especially noticeable during rocket launches that take place around an hour before sunrise.

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 mission is part of the agency’s Commercial Resupply Services program. The Dragon spacecraft carried more than 6,300 pounds of science and supplies bound for the International Space Station.

NASA scheduled the spacecraft to arrive at the station on Thursday, Oct. 15, and dock with the Harmony module.

The launch was the fourth flight for the Cargo Dragon spacecraft C211 and the eighth flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster.

Although the glowing formation appeared over Florida and Georgia, the launch offered another striking reminder of how rocket launches can create eye-catching displays far beyond the launch site.

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