Falcon 9 Launch to Light Western Skies Nov. 2
Clear weather is needed for the glowing exhaust to show over California and the interior West during the four-hour window on Monday, November 2, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Space
SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch of the USSF-423 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, November 2, 2026, with a four-hour window opening at 5:42 p.m. PST. The launch is a scheduled event, not yet occurred.
Why it matters
Rocket exhaust at twilight can catch high-altitude sunlight and form a glowing 'space jellyfish' visible across much of the West, a phenomenon a previous SpaceX launch produced about two weeks earlier. Forecasters expect partial cloud cover in parts of the region, which could limit visibility.
The figures come from the published launch window and regional weather forecasts, which compare a four-hour window beginning at 5:42 p.m. PST against forecast cloud cover. Whether the glowing exhaust is visible depends on weather conditions that remain unresolved on the day of the launch.
The players
SpaceX
A private rocket company that builds and flies the Falcon 9 reusable launch vehicle and is the market leader in commercial orbital launch.
U.S. Space Force
The branch of the U.S. military responsible for space operations, which contracts the USSF-423 mission.
The details
The Falcon 9 is a SpaceX rocket that burns liquid propellant and lifts off from the ground. As its exhaust climbs high enough to reach sunlight while the ground below is already dark during twilight, the plume glows and spreads into the shape that observers have called a 'space jellyfish.' The USSF-423 mission is flown for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Timeline
Approximately mid-October 2026: a previous SpaceX launch produced a 'space jellyfish' sighting.
November 1, 2026: Daylight Saving Time ends, producing an earlier sunset.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 5:42 p.m. PST: the four-hour Falcon 9 USSF-423 launch window opens.
The Tech Race
The Falcon 9 remains the workhorse of commercial and national-security launches from Vandenberg, and this mission is part of the regular cadence of such flights. The twilight plume phenomenon is a byproduct of the vehicle's routine operation rather than a separate capability.
Observers in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico may see the glowing exhaust if skies are clear at launch time. Cloud cover forecast over parts of southern California and Las Vegas could block the view there.
The takeaway
Watch whether the USSF-423 launch lifts off within its four-hour window starting at 5:42 p.m. PST on November 2, 2026. Check local cloud forecasts before heading outside if you want to see the plume.
Further reading
For background on the rockets and missions behind this sky event, browse our Space coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weather.
