SpaceX launch rescheduled to Tuesday; could bring another ‘space jellyfish’ to Carolina skies

Those who are up early Tuesday morning may have another chance to spot a space jellyfish, the glowing, expanding cloud of rocket exhaust that can turn a routine launch into an extraordinary sight in the predawn sky.

SpaceX is targeting 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the launch of its Bandwagon-5 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket was originally scheduled for launch Monday morning, but had to be pushed back due to unfavorable weather.

The Falcon 9 rocket will lift the rideshare mission containing multiple satellites into orbit, and the timing could be favorable for creating an illuminated exhaust plume visible hundreds of miles from the launch site.

The display is possible because the rocket will climb into sunlight about 3 minutes after launch while the ground below remains dark. Chances are best the earlier in the 6:30-7:30 launch window liftoff occurs. By 7 a.m. the sky will be too bright ahead of Raleigh's 7:24 a.m. sunrise.

A different trajectory from last week’s spectacular display

Last week’s SpaceX launch was visible from Alabama to Maryland and Tennessee as the rocket’s northeasterly trajectory carried the expanding plume up the Atlantic coast.

Tuesday's launch will follow a different path. The Bandwagon-5 mission is expected to travel southeast from Florida, providing the best show for the Caribbean and central and southern Floridians.

While this different path means North Carolina observers should not expect a repeat of last week’s spectacle, it still may be visible, lower in the sky and less prominently.

Where to look

An unobstructed view toward the southeastern sky is best. Avoid areas with bright streetlights and give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness.

Watch for a point of light climbing into the sky, followed by a diffuse, expanding glow that can resemble a jellyfish with long, wispy tentacles. The display can change shape quickly as the exhaust expands and catches the sunlight. Upper level winds can shift the glowing clouds as well.

The phenomenon is not a cloud of material falling back to Earth. It is rocket exhaust and other material, mostly water, released at high altitude, illuminated by the Sun while observers on the ground remain in darkness.

Clear skies are expected for the launch 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. launch window.

Check the SpaceX mission page for the latest launch timing and a live stream of the launch.