East Coast — SpaceX ISS Launch Creates 'Jellyfish' Cloud at Dawn

A SpaceX launch bound for the International Space Station left a glowing cloud with trailing, tentacle-like plumes over parts of the East Coast before sunrise on Oct. 13, 2026, according to video published by ABC News. The network described the sight, visible to families along the coast, as a cloud shaped like a jellyfish.

What Did Witnesses See Before Sunrise?

ABC News' footage shows a luminous, spreading plume stretching across the still-dark sky, with wisps curling away from a central glow in a pattern the network likened to a jellyfish. The clip, titled "SpaceX launch spawns 'jellyfish' cloud in sky before sunrise," was posted to ABC News' video platform and framed as a scene that greeted East Coast households as they woke for the day, per the network's caption: "Families along the East Coast woke up to a majestic sight in the sky during SpaceX's launch to the ISS."

What Was the Rocket's Destination?

ABC News identified the flight only as a SpaceX launch to the International Space Station. The network's video description does not name the specific mission, the rocket variant, the launch pad, or the crew or cargo aboard, and no additional primary-source material — such as a NASA or SpaceX mission page — was included with the clip.

When and Where Was the Cloud Visible?

The sighting was tied to the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 13, 2026, and described by ABC News as visible to "families along the East Coast." The network's report does not specify individual states, cities, or a launch site, so the geographic reach of the sighting beyond "East Coast" is not detailed in the available footage.

Timeline of the Morning's Events

• Pre-dawn, Oct. 13, 2026: SpaceX conducts a launch described by ABC News as bound for the International Space Station.
• Shortly after liftoff: A cloud with jellyfish-like trailing plumes becomes visible in the dark sky to East Coast viewers, according to ABC News.
• Oct. 13, 2026: ABC News publishes the video clip of the sighting, framing it within its Good Morning America-linked video feed.

Where Can the Footage Be Viewed?

The clip is available on ABC News' video platform, filed alongside the network's broader rotation of same-day video segments. ABC News did not publish a separate written article detailing the launch's mission designation, booster recovery, or flight duration alongside the video, and no other outlet or primary government document was supplied alongside this report to corroborate additional mission specifics.

Readers who want to track upcoming launches that could produce similar sky effects can watch for SpaceX's own mission updates, though no forward-looking launch schedule was included in the source material reviewed for this report.

Artiglio is A coming-soon iPhone chief of staff for briefings and drafts. Not on the App Store yet.