SpaceX launch spawns jellyfish cloud before sunrise

The SpaceX launch to the International Space Station lit up the pre-dawn sky for East Coast families; the cloud looked more dramatic than the paperwork.

On air: Vera Bullock and Hank Ledger on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:51 PM ET, Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Updated 1:22 AM ET · aired 4 times

Photo: Official SpaceX Photos · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Vera Bullock and Hank Ledger on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:51 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ABC News's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Official SpaceX Photos · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Falcon 9 — Photo: Official SpaceX Photos · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

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Interviews“It's a no-refund jellyfish, Kenji. Is it still available? Asking for a friend with a laminated chart.”Wendell Gaspard▶ Full · 1:30SpaceX Jellyfish Cloud: The Man Who Allegedly Sold a SunriseInterviews · Oct 13

At a glance

First reported by ABC News: “WATCH: SpaceX launch spawns "jellyfish" cloud in sky before sunrise”.
Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 5:51 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Vera Bullock and Hank Ledger; aired 4 times.
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.

ABC NewsWATCH: SpaceX launch spawns "jellyfish" cloud in sky before sunrise

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorABC News reports families along the East Coast woke up before sunrise to a jellyfish-shaped cloud in the sky, after SpaceX launched toward the space station.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA jellyfish. In the sky. Over people's driveways! Roll it, I need to see this.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThis is NASA's footage. Wet pad, rocket in the distance, and the rocket is standing up.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorLook at those support arms! They're extending! Something is about to happen!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWatch the left side here. Concrete. Still concrete.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt's the calmest rocket I've ever seen.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe clip ends with it still vertical and ready, and the jellyfish was in the sky before sunrise.

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