KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Tuesdays (Oct.13), predawn launch of the NASA SpaceX CRS-35 resupply mission from Floridas Space Coast spawned a magnificent and beyond stunning ‘Space Jellyfish’ high in the skies all along the US east coast  as it thundered aloft bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

The NASA SpaceX CRS-35 cargo mission launch to the International Space Station (ISS) predawn on Oct. 13 produced a spectacular ‘Space Jellyfish’ effect that’s ranks as one of the best ever – and my timelapse long duration streak from the launch and landing was featured multiple times on WFTV ABC News Orlando

The NASA SpaceX CRS-35 commercial cargo resupply mission bound for the ISS lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT (1033 UTC), Tuesday, Oct. 13, aboard a veteran Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The first stage booster tail number B1096.8 nailed the upright landing back at LZ-40 some eight minutes after liftoff accompanied by multiple thunderous sonic booms heard all around the Space Coast and many dozens of miles away

Enjoy our launch and landing photos taken by Ken Kremer and Jean Wright for Space UpClose

The timelapse long duration launch and landing streak below was captured by Ken Kremer of Space UpClose while viewing from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center press site – and was shown multiple times on WFTV ABC News Orlando during weather and launch updates by the stations chief meteorologist Tom Terry.

The over 8-minute-long timelapse exposure shows the launch thundering aloft from pad 40 then poking behind a big patch of thick clouds illuminated during the ascent – and then reemerging to form the humongous space jellyfish over time after separation of the first and second stages.

This single image was captured with a fisheye lens includes launch/landing + water reflections in the Turn Basin, boost back & landing burns, scattered clouds & an ISS streak. Taken at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center press site.

Tom also featured more my views of the Space Jellyfish

The space jellyfish captivated millions of early morning sun rise spectators across the US eastern seaboard as it soared aloft on a northeasterly trajectory

The Space Jellyfish effect can form within an hour of sunrise or sunset as the rocket ascends from darkness into daylight

Sunlight then reflects off the water vapor, ice particles and exhaust plume particles and expanding changes due to pressure waves in the upper atmosphere

The Cargo Dragon was carrying more than 6,300 pounds of supplies and hardware, bound for the International Space Station.

This counts as the 4^th flight of this spaceX cargo Dragon

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is loaded with many new scientific experiments, cargo, and the final pair of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays dubbed iROSAs to the orbiting research laboratory.

About nine minutes after launch, Dragon successfully separated from the Falcon 9 upper, opened its nosecone, and began a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station, NASA confirmed.

Dragon is scheduled to autonomously dock at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, to the space-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module. NASA will stream rendezvous and docking coverage beginning at 9:15 a.m., through a variety of platforms.

Learn where to watch online:  https://www.nasa.gov/live

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to remain at the space station until mid-November when it will depart and return to Earth with time-critical research and cargo, splashing down off the coast of California, says NASA.

“The final pair of solar arrays will complete the space station’s power system augmentation, boosting available electricity for research, operations, and the station’s safe, controlled deorbit. Astronauts will install the arrays during a series of spacewalks planned for later this fal, said NASA in a press release

“Dragon also is delivering several new experiments, including hardware to manufacture artificial retinas in microgravity that could help restore vision for patients on Earth and 3D heart tissue models to advance large-scale drug testing on future space missions. Dragon also will carry materials to study how a new type of glass is formed in microgravity, and brain organoids that could uncover potential treatment targets for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis.”

Ken Kremer TV interview about Space Jellyfish on Fox 35 Orlando on Oct. 13

Link: https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/fmc-19m2132mdte1nocu

SpaceX launch creates jellyfish effect. Space UpClose Managing Editor Ken Kremer joined FOX 35’s Jack Royer to explain the stunning “space jellyfish” phenomenon spotted across Central Florida following a recent SpaceX launch on Oct. 13, 2026.  Screenshot Credit: Ken Kremer/SpaceUpClose.com/Fox 35 Orlando.

We discussed the crowds watching, are they popular, how space jellyfish form, when do they form, how do they change over time, how long have then been visible, will space Starlink become a cell phone provider carrier and so much more!

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