Ever since SpaceX started shooting rockets up into space, we suddenly started getting these very strange videos. They’re called jellyfish clouds because it looks exactly like a jellyfish swimming in the sky as the rocket flies into space. See here: We’ve been sending things into space for 80 years, but jellyfish clouds have only existed for 10 years and nobody finds that strange? pic.twitter.com/n58uoloCeP — Rue (@RueAlar) March 4, 2026 Another here: They’re gonna flood the realm. They probably have done this many times. It’s not God, it’s not cyclical. It’s them.pic.twitter.com/QBNeVn0dSe — DemonstrableReality (@flatsmackin) March 4, 2026 If you ask me, it sure does look like a rocket trying to fly through “waters above” or perhaps even hitting a firmament….but that would be crazy. Of course, the Bible speaks about “waters above” in Genesis: Genesis 1:6–8 (KJV)And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And you might say sure that was in Genesis, but there are not still waters above up there later on….and you might be right. Some people believe the “waters above” were poured out on the Earth during Noah’s flood. The only problem with all of that is when David writes the Psalms many centuries AFTER Noah’s Flood and long after Genesis, David still seems to think the “waters above” are still there: Psalm 148:4 (KJV)Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Psalm 104:2–3 (KJV)Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind. But anyway, I digress…. What is really going on and why do I not recall ever seeing this before SpaceX started launching rockets? Seriously, think back to NASA sending the Space Shuttle up into Space….do you ever remember seeing this? I don’t! But don’t worry, I have the official answer for you direct from Grok. The reason why you never remember seeing this before is because many more people today have phones/cameras and also because NASA always launched its rockets in the daytime. So there you go: That’s a fair observation—the dramatic, glowing “space jellyfish” plumes we see so often now with SpaceX launches weren’t something that popped up frequently (or memorably) in media coverage or public memory during the Space Shuttle era (which actually ran from 1981 to 2011, not 1965–1975; the Shuttle program started well after the Apollo/Saturn days). The effect itself did occur during some Shuttle launches under the right conditions, but it was much rarer and less prominently documented or photographed for a few key reasons: Why it seemed less common or noticeable back then Launch schedule and timing — The Space Shuttle program had only about 135 total flights over 30 years (roughly 4–5 per year at peak). Many launches were scheduled during daylight hours for safety, payload requirements (e.g., precise orbital insertions), or mission constraints. Twilight windows (pre-dawn or post-sunset) were hit far less often than today. Launch cadence — SpaceX now averages 80–100+ Falcon 9 launches per year, with many deliberately timed for Starlink deployments in dawn/dusk windows to optimize visibility and coverage. This massively increases the odds of catching twilight plumes. In contrast, Shuttle launches were infrequent, so even if a few hit twilight, they didn’t create the same “flood” of sightings. Fuel and plume differences — The Shuttle used solid rocket boosters (SRBs) for the first ~2 minutes, producing dense, smoky exhaust from ammonium perchlorate/aluminum. The main engines burned liquid hydrogen/oxygen, creating a cleaner, mostly water-vapor plume higher up. While the upper plume could still scatter sunlight and form glowing clouds, the overall visual was often more streaky or diffuse compared to the very distinct, bulbous “jellyfish” from Falcon 9’s kerosene/LOX second stage (RP-1 produces more particles/ice nuclei that enhance the freezing and scattering for a brighter, more structured look). Photography and social media — In the 1980s–2000s, high-quality digital cameras, smartphones, and instant sharing didn’t exist. Most people relied on TV news or newspapers, which rarely highlighted these as “wow” moments unless dramatic. Today, thousands capture and post twilight launches instantly, amplifying visibility. Historical examples and documentation The phenomenon (also called “twilight phenomenon” or “rocket exhaust noctilucent clouds”) has been known since at least the 1960s–1970s with various rockets. For the Shuttle specifically: Some launches did produce illuminated high-altitude plumes during twilight, visible as glowing clouds or aurora-like effects from the ground (especially in Florida or along the East Coast). Wikipedia and atmospheric science sources note similar sightings during Shuttle twilight ascents, though not always the classic dangling-tentacles jellyfish shape. Pre-2000 examples exist from other rockets (e.g., Soviet Kosmos launches in the 1970s–1980s caused famous “jellyfish” or U-shaped plumes mistaken for UFOs, like the 1977 Petrozavodsk phenomenon). In short, you likely didn’t recall seeing them because they happened infrequently during the Shuttle years, weren’t captured/shared as widely, and the plumes sometimes looked different due to the vehicle’s design. The effect is the same physics—sunlit exhaust in twilight—but SpaceX’s high launch rate and optimal timing have made it a regular spectacle now. If you’re curious, older Shuttle launch videos (especially any rare dawn/dusk ones) occasionally show glowing upper plumes, though usually less “jellyfish-y” than modern Falcon 9 examples.