SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:25 a.m. EDT (0925 UTC) on July 9, 2026, marking the 36th flight for its most-flown booster. The mission, designated as Starlink 10-42, deployed 29 Starlink broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. The pre-dawn timing created a visible “space jellyfish” effect across the Florida sky and as far north as western North Carolina, where residents documented the glowing, bulb-shaped cloud with wispy trails.
Record-Breaking Reuse and Operational Milestones
The mission utilized booster B1067, which has now achieved a record-breaking 36 flights. This specific rocket first entered service in June 2021 for the company’s 22nd Dragon flight under the Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract with NASA. It has since supported the Crew-3 and Crew-4 astronaut flights along with 24 batches of Starlink satellites. Following this launch, the booster successfully landed on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the 160th landing for that vessel and the 635th booster landing to date for SpaceX.
The launch represents the 80th Falcon 9 mission of 2026. Data compiled by astronomer Jonathan McDowell indicates that SpaceX’s satellite deployment is accelerating; the company launched 1,589 Starlink satellites in the first half of 2026, compared to 1,489 during the same period in 2025. In total, SpaceX deployed 3,180 Starlink satellites in 2025 and has launched more than 12,400 since the constellation began. With nearly 11,000 satellites still operational and more than 10,700 currently active in orbit, the constellation remains the largest satellite network ever assembled. Roughly 80% of SpaceX’s 2026 flights have been devoted to expanding this network.
The ‘Space Jellyfish’ Phenomenon
Residents in Florida and North Carolina reported seeing an unusual, glowing formation in the sky shortly after the 5:25 a.m. liftoff. Meteorologists identify this as the “space jellyfish effect,” a visual phenomenon that occurs when launches take place shortly before sunrise or just after sunset. Even though it was dark on the ground, the sun was already shining on the upper atmosphere. When the rocket exhaust reached these high altitudes, the gases expanded and were illuminated by sunlight, creating the glowing, bulb-shaped cloud reported by the News 6 Weather Team at WKMG.
For more on this story, see SpaceX Falcon 9 Sets Record With 36th Launch on July 9.
Sightings were confirmed across central and eastern North Carolina, as well as in Hendersonville, where viewer Robert Allison captured video and photos around 5:30 a.m. The 45th Weather Squadron had forecast a 90 percent chance for favorable weather, though meteorologists had noted a small concern for the “Cumulus Cloud Rule” due to potential offshore Atlantic showers and Saharan dust settling in the mid-levels.
Market Valuation and Competitive Context
The operational success of the Starlink network and the high flight cadence of the Falcon 9 fleet arrive during a period of stock market volatility for SpaceX. Shares hit an all-time low of $145.20 on Wednesday before closing at $149.29, below the $150 market debut price. Despite the company’s inclusion in the Nasdaq-100, the stock has faced downward pressure, as the inclusion failed to spark the index-tracking buying some investors expected.
Analyst Perspectives on Industry Valuation
Market analysts have adjusted their outlooks in light of recent activity from competitors. Following a reported $10 billion fundraise by Blue Origin at a $130 billion valuation, William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma revised his assessment of SpaceX. “When taking into account updated [Blue Origin] valuations, we now estimate that SpaceX’s rocket launch business is worth $546 billion, up from our prior estimate of $300 billion,” DiPalma wrote, while maintaining the firm’s Outperform rating on the stock.
The analyst’s report underscores a gap between the two companies. While Blue Origin recently secured substantial capital, its New Glenn rocket remains grounded following an explosion during a static engine test earlier this year, which destroyed the company’s only launch pad. This event serves as a reminder of the lead SpaceX maintains in rocket and launch capabilities, as the company continues to maintain a high-frequency launch schedule from Cape Canaveral.
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