Liftoff! SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying Dragon to the ISS on its CRS-15 mission, 29 June 2018.
The “space jellyfish” makes an appearance. Photo by Hunter.
Those who ventured out in the dark pre-sunrise hours to catch SpaceX’s CRS-15 launch were treated to a heck of a light show! Twilight launches can be subject to a phenomenon in which the light of the just-rising (or just-barely-set) sun catches the rocket’s plumes against the dark sky, lighting up the trails with brilliant, shifting colors and creating an effect some call the “space jellyfish”.
Though it can be strenuous to make it to those oh-so-early launches, it’s definitely worth the effort! Trust me, the photos and videos currently spreading across the internet do not come close to seeing the effect in person. These photos and the video below were all taken from the eastern side of SR 401, a tremendous spot for launch viewing.
Here’s hoping you were able to see this launch too – and if not? Well, there’s always next time.