SpaceX to Launch USSF-423 Mission Monday

A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on November 2, 2026, with exhaust expected to create a visible glowing 'space jellyfish.'

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Space

SpaceX to Launch USSF-423 Mission Monday

SpaceX plans to launch its Falcon 9 rocket on the USSF-423 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, November 2, 2026, within a four-hour window starting at 5:42 p.m. PST. The rocket's exhaust is expected to produce a glowing 'space jellyfish' visible across much of the West.

Why it matters

The launch window falls during twilight, when the sky is dark but the exhaust remains sunlit at high altitude, which is what makes the effect visible. Residents across the West may be able to observe the event depending on local cloud cover.

The launch window runs four hours starting at 5:42 p.m. PST on November 2, 2026, from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Forecasts show partial cloud cover over parts of southern California, while clear skies are expected across southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, but whether the launch proceeds on schedule is not confirmed.

The players

SpaceX

SpaceX is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk that develops the Falcon 9 rocket family.

The details

SpaceX planned the Falcon 9 launch of the USSF-423 mission for Monday evening, with exhaust expected to glow as a 'space jellyfish' similar to one produced by a SpaceX launch roughly two weeks earlier. Daylight Saving Time ending on November 1 has produced an earlier sunset, aligning the launch with twilight conditions.

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.

Seasonal Patterns

The launch follows a previous Falcon 9 mission that produced a comparable 'space jellyfish' sighting roughly two weeks earlier, and its visibility is shaped by the seasonal shift in sunset timing following the November 1 end of Daylight Saving Time.

Residents across California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico can look west or north shortly after sunset on November 2 if skies are clear. Check local cloud cover forecasts before heading outside to view the exhaust.

The takeaway

Clear skies and an early sunset make Monday evening a good window to watch a rocket's exhaust catch sunlight high overhead, but cloud cover across parts of California may limit visibility.