SpaceX's CRS-35 cargo mission lit up the sky above the eastern United States on the morning of October 13, 2026 — painting a glowing shape that looked like a giant jellyfish drifting through the dawn. NASA published photos of the spectacle on October 14 and explained the science behind it. Meanwhile, the mission's Dragon spacecraft is on course to dock with the International Space Station today, October 15 — while competitor Rocket Lab announced a setback for its new Neutron rocket.
Illustration: the glowing "jellyfish" plume that lit up the dawn sky during the CRS-35 launch.
What Happened
SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply mission for NASA lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT on October 13 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, according to NASA. The Falcon 9 rocket carried the uncrewed Dragon spacecraft loaded with scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment bound for the International Space Station.
Because the launch happened just before sunrise, the rocket's exhaust plume was brightly illuminated by sunlight high above the still-darkened ground — creating the glowing "jellyfish" effect visible across the eastern United States. NASA explained that this phenomenon is a well-understood optical effect: near sunrise or sunset, high-altitude exhaust particles catch sunlight long before it reaches the ground, turning the plume into a luminous, drifting shape.
NASA's post of the phenomenon drew thousands of reactions on social media, with viewers comparing the glowing trail to a nebula — and some joking about the rocket's glowing arc.
In a separate development on October 14, Rocket Lab announced that the debut flight of its new, larger Neutron rocket will be delayed until 2027, Reuters reported. The company had previously targeted the fourth quarter of 2026. The news sent Rocket Lab shares down about 6% in extended trading, according to Reuters.
Background
The "jellyfish" effect is a recurring crowd-pleaser of spaceflight. It forms when a rocket climbs into the high atmosphere during twilight, where frozen water and ice crystals in the exhaust plume expand in the thin air and reflect sunlight from above while observers below remain in darkness. Similar glows have accompanied many dawn and dusk launches from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg over the years.
CRS-35 is the latest in a long-running series of commercial cargo flights that keep the ISS supplied. Each mission carries a mix of crew provisions, replacement hardware, and experiments — from biology to materials science — that researchers on the station run in microgravity.
Rocket Lab's Neutron, meanwhile, is a reusable medium-lift rocket central to the company's push beyond its small Electron launcher. According to Reuters, Neutron is intended to compete for larger commercial satellite, civil-space, and U.S. national-security missions — a market currently dominated by SpaceX. Rocket Lab had already signaled slippage in August, when it aimed to get the vehicle to the launch pad in the fourth quarter rather than launch it then.
Illustration: the uncrewed Dragon capsule rendezvoused with the International Space Station on October 15.
Why It Matters
The CRS-35 mission is routine in the best sense: it shows how commercial resupply has become the backbone of the ISS program. But the "jellyfish" spectacle is a reminder of how public interest in spaceflight is still sparked by a single beautiful launch — exactly the kind of moment space agencies use to inspire the next generation.
The Rocket Lab delay matters because the medium- and heavy-lift market is where space competition is heating up. Neutron is Rocket Lab's biggest bet on becoming a true SpaceX rival; a slip into 2027 gives competitors — including Europe's Ariane 6 and new entrants from India and China — more room to court the same customers.
Adding to the week's activity, orbital-mirror startup Reflect Orbital announced on October 14 that it had purchased two launches from India's Skyroot Aerospace to deploy spacecraft designed to beam controlled lighting down from orbit — for uses like nighttime search-and-rescue and supporting solar farms. Skyroot's Vikram-1 recently reached orbit on its first flight, a milestone for India's private space sector.
What Happens Next
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous with and dock to the International Space Station on October 15, with NASA's live coverage beginning at 9:15 a.m. EDT, according to the agency.
Rocket Lab has not announced a new target date for Neutron's first flight within 2027. Watch for updates from the company's next earnings call and from its Wallops Island launch site, where Neutron preparations are underway.
And for skywatchers: the next twilight launches from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg could produce another "jellyfish" — keep an eye on launch schedules if you live within a few hundred miles of either coast.
Illustration: Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket, whose debut flight has been pushed to 2027.
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FAQ
What caused the "jellyfish" in the sky after the SpaceX launch?
According to NASA, it was the rocket's exhaust plume being brightly illuminated by sunlight high in the atmosphere near sunrise. The illuminated plume expands in the thin air and resembles a glowing jellyfish.
What was SpaceX's CRS-35 mission carrying?
The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft carried scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station on SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply mission for NASA.
Why did Rocket Lab delay the Neutron rocket?
Rocket Lab did not give a detailed technical reason in the announcement reported by Reuters; it simply moved the inaugural flight from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027, following earlier signs of schedule slippage in August.
Can I watch the Dragon dock with the ISS?
Yes — NASA provided live coverage of the rendezvous and docking on October 15, starting at 9:15 a.m. EDT.
Sources
- NASA, "NASA's Space X CRS-35 Launch Jellyfish" (image article, October 14, 2026)
- Reuters, "Rocket Lab pushes Neutron rocket's debut flight to 2027, shares fall" (October 14, 2026)
- PR Newswire via Morningstar, "Reflect Orbital Purchases Two Skyroot Launches" (October 14, 2026)
Space news, October 15, 2026 — SpaceX CRS-35 jellyfish launch, Dragon ISS docking, Rocket Lab Neutron delay, Skyroot and Reflect Orbital launches.
Did you spot the glowing jellyfish over the dawn sky? Tell us where you saw it in the comments below.
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