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Space jellyfish encore possible as weather clears for SpaceX launch
The Falcon 9 on today's Bandwagon-5 mission carries thirty-two payloads from Cape Canaveral, and East Coast viewers could get another glowing plume; it still isn't an animal.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on BBN This MorningPublished
Photo: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - SpaceX · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNWatch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN This Morning at 7:04 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Orlando Sentinel's, the jokes are ours.
From the show
At a glance
- First reported by Orlando Sentinel: “Space jellyfish encore possible as weather clears for SpaceX launch today”, with reporting from Benzinga, Washington Post, News4JAX, Weather.com, Wikipedia and FOX Weather.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7:04 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock.
- Topics: SpaceX.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Orlando SentinelSpace jellyfish encore possible as weather clears for SpaceX launch today
- BenzingaSpaceX Launch Could Create a Giant ‘Jellyfish’ in the Sky Over the East Coast Monday - SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPC - Benzinga October 19, 2026 · facts used on air
- Washington PostSpace jellyfish cloud visible in sky after SpaceX launch - The Washington Post October 13, 2026 · facts used on air
- News4JAXSpaceX launch creates jellyfish-shaped cloud over Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia October 13, 2026 · facts used on air
- Weather.comSpaceX launch creates glowing 'space jellyfish' in the sky October 13, 2026 · facts used on air
- WikipediaSpace jellyfish facts used on air
- FOX WeatherSee it: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch dazzles millions along the East Coast as rare 'space jellyfish' illuminates sky October 13, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOkay, I have to ask. What happened with the space jellyfish? Is it a real animal?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNo. On October thirteenth, sunlight hit rocket exhaust from a Falcon 9 that hadn't reached the ground-level sunrise yet, according to the Washington Post.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentPeople saw the glow from Florida to Virginia.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo it doesn't live up there.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's a plume, Vera. It's exhaust. Space.com says it shows up often when a Falcon 9 launches about an hour before sunrise.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWill it be back, and will it be near me?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentMaybe. The Orlando Sentinel says weather is clearing for today's launch from Cape Canaveral, and East Coast residents could see another plume.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's carrying thirty-two payloads.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDoes it need a ticket?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's exhaust, Vera. It doesn't do bookings. Brock, tell her what the sky is doing.
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Photo: Bill Ingalls · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Alfredo Gutiérrez · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: robingreenfield.org · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ka Kit Pang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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