SpaceX CRS-35 Launch Created Rare Jellyfish Effect
The mission carried biological experiments to orbit, marking the fourth flight for this specific Dragon spacecraft.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Space
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SpaceX launched the CRS-35 mission on Tuesday, creating a visible space jellyfish effect over Philadelphia and Bucks County. The Dragon spacecraft is now in transit, carrying human brain models and other scientific payloads to the orbiting lab.
Why it matters
This mission supports long-term lunar exploration by testing how space environments affect astronaut brain health and agricultural stability. The studies seek to establish baseline biological data for sustained human presence beyond low Earth orbit.
The Dragon spacecraft is on its fourth flight, currently transporting a payload for a five-week study on human brain models. These experiments are paired with ongoing analysis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and agricultural disease resistance.
The players
SpaceX
An aerospace manufacturer that operates the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the reusable Dragon spacecraft fleet.
The details
The space jellyfish effect is an optical phenomenon occurring when rocket exhaust plumes are illuminated by sunlight in the upper atmosphere while the viewer remains in surface-level darkness. Upon arrival, the Dragon spacecraft will autonomously dock with the orbiting lab. Researchers are using the five-week mission duration to evaluate cellular changes in brain models to improve understanding of neurological health for future lunar missions.
Timeline
The CRS-35 mission launched at 6:33 a.m. EST on Tuesday.
The spacecraft is expected to latch on to the orbiting lab at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The Tech Race
This mission provides essential biological data for the Artemis lunar exploration program, following a pattern set by previous cargo flights to the orbiting lab. Researchers are competing to solidify findings on human health that will dictate the safety protocols for the next generation of moon missions.
Residents of Philadelphia and Bucks County were able to observe the atmospheric effect firsthand during the early morning launch. While the experiments focus on long-term lunar health, the data generated will eventually inform medical research standards for human survival in deep space.
The takeaway
This flight marks a continued shift toward using the orbiting lab as a specialized testbed for long-duration lunar health requirements. Watch for follow-up data from the five-week brain model study, which will be released after the samples return to Earth for analysis.
What happens next
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to latch on to the orbiting lab on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Further reading
For more on the current trajectory of orbital research and logistics, visit our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHP.
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