Spectacular ‘Space Jellyfish’ Formation Seen in Florida Following SpaceX Launch

Did you catch the sight? Early Tuesday morning, SpaceX executed its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, leading to the emergence of a luminous phenomenon referred to as a ‘space jellyfish’ across Central Florida.

So, what exactly is a ‘space jellyfish’? This phenomenon occurs when sunlight bounces off the rocket’s exhaust plume at high altitudes, resulting in a glowing, bulbous cloud that expands throughout the sky and can be visible from vast distances. Such displays are most frequently witnessed during launches in the early morning or late evening.

Many spectators were awake in time to view the launch and shared their stunning images with FOX 35. SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 mission lifted off at approximately 7:04 a.m. Tuesday, carrying 32 payloads, which included cubesats, microsats, and reentry vehicles.