SpaceX rocket launch leaves glowing trail across the sky over Orlando, USA

On October 20, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, USA, @MCO shared a video showing a rocket launch visible across the sky. In the footage, a bright object travels above the horizon, leaving a long, luminous trail that gradually expands and twists into unusual formations. According to reports, SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at approximately 7:04 a.m. EDT on October 20. The rocket carried the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission, which included 32 payloads destined for orbit. The glowing phenomenon, known as a “space jellyfish,” occurs when sunlight illuminates the rocket’s exhaust plume high in the atmosphere while the ground remains relatively dark. The rocket’s first-stage booster subsequently landed on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 19th flight.