A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:33 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, carrying 29 Starlink satellites. The launch, visible from nearby beaches like Minutemen Causeway and Viera, was captured by Florida Today photographers Craig Bailey and Tim Shortt. The rocket’s exhaust plume briefly formed a bird-like shape during ascent, a common but striking visual during Falcon 9 missions.
Unrelated to the launch, residents in New Jersey and Delaware reported sightings of space jellyfish—translucent, gelatinous creatures typically found in deep ocean waters—along coastal areas. The reports emerged hours after the SpaceX mission, though no direct connection between the launch and the marine phenomenon has been confirmed. Local officials said they are monitoring the sightings but emphasized they are not unusual for the region during certain tidal conditions.
The Starlink mission marked SpaceX’s third launch of the month from Cape Canaveral, continuing the company’s efforts to expand global broadband coverage. The satellites deployed at an altitude of approximately 550 kilometers, according to SpaceX’s flight data. Launches from the Space Force Station have become a regular part of Brevard County’s landscape, with residents and visitors frequently gathering along the coast to watch rockets ascend.
No injuries or disruptions were reported from the launch, and the Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. The mission is part of SpaceX’s ongoing contract with NASA to maintain Starlink’s constellation, which now includes over 4,000 active satellites.