A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 5:52 a.m. EST on March 4 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, creating a luminous 'jellyfish' effect in the predawn sky. The phenomenon occurred as the rocket's high-altitude plume was illuminated by the sun before it rose over Florida. Local residents and skywatchers reported seeing the glowing, bulbous cloud formation over Brevard County and surrounding areas. The launch carried 29 Starlink satellites (Group 10-40) to low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX's global broadband internet project.
The Falcon 9's first stage, Booster 1080, completed its 25th flight and landed on the droneship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked SpaceX's 580th successful rocket landing since 2015. The booster had previously supported missions including the Ax-2 crew flight, the Euclid space telescope launch, and multiple Starlink deployments. The 29 satellites deployed during this mission will join thousands already in orbit to expand Starlink's coverage.
The 'jellyfish' effect, caused by sunlight refracting through the rocket's exhaust plume, was captured in time-lapse photos shared by SpaceX. The images show the rocket's ascent against a dark sky, with the glowing plume resembling a translucent, floating creature. The visual display was visible to early risers across central Florida, with some observers noting the spectacle from as far north as Titusville and as far south as Cocoa Beach.
This launch follows SpaceX's recent increase in Starlink operations, with multiple missions scheduled in 2026 to deploy hundreds of satellites. The company aims to achieve global broadband coverage by mid-decade. Booster 1080's 25th flight highlights SpaceX's progress in reusing rocket hardware, a key factor in reducing launch costs. The droneship landing, 425 miles east of Cape Canaveral, was the 12th such landing for 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' this year.