SpaceX is targeting a Tuesday morning Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station that could produce a brief “space jellyfish” display over parts of Florida.
The Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 40 during a window from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 20. The rocket is set to carry small satellites and payloads for multiple customers into orbit on a southeast trajectory. The launch was previously planned for Oct. 19 before the window was scrubbed and moved to Tuesday.
A space jellyfish can appear around dawn or dusk, when the ground remains dark while sunlight reaches the rocket’s high-altitude exhaust plume. Sunlight can illuminate ice crystals in the expanding plume, creating the glowing, jellyfish-like shape. The display depends on launch timing, the rocket’s trajectory and cloud conditions.
Visibility is expected to be best near the Space Coast, including Brevard County, and could extend as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach, weather permitting. The source notes that launches from the Space Coast are also often visible from the Treasure Coast and Volusia County.
There are no sonic booms expected for this mission. People watching from the Space Coast can view from public areas such as beaches and riverfront parks, but should follow posted access rules and avoid blocking traffic or bridge rights of way.
