Space jellyfish encore possible as weather clears for SpaceX launch today - Orlando Sentinel
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, producing a smaller version of the atmospheric 'space jellyfish' phenomenon. The mission carried 32 payloads, including communication satellites and SpaceX's Starfall system.
Why it matters
It showcases ongoing commercial space launch operations and the unique visual phenomena created by rocket exhaust in the upper atmosphere.
SpaceX executed a predawn launch Tuesday morning that offered viewers another serving of space jellyfish, albeit a smaller, shorter-lived version than the one seen last week.
That launch created the effect of an expanding nebula that was seen among clear skies all the way up to Washington, D.C. Closer to the launch site in Florida, the massive post-launch cloud formation was among the most impressive ever seen, said local photographers.
Tuesday morning’s follow-up did not have the same grandeur, but for those who watched, it created the unique effect once again after liftoff.
The newest jellyfish came minutes after a Falcon 9 rocket on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission carrying 32 payloads took flight from Cape Canaveral Space Forde Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:04 a.m. just 22 minutes before sunrise, with skies already tinged a lighter blue than the darker skies seen during last week’s launch.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in