NASA released a striking image of the SpaceX Crew-12 Falcon 9 launch that produced a nebula-like exhaust cloud over Cape Canaveral on Feb. 13, 2026. The photograph, taken by John Kraus, shows the rocket’s nine Merlin engines creating a rapidly expanding plume that resembled a blooming flower or a supernova remnant. The Crew-12 mission lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and successfully docked with the International Space Station on Feb. 14. The launch marked the start of an eight-month Expedition 74 stay for astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA’s Sochie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Key Takeaways
- The launch occurred on Feb. 13, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Crew-12 carried four crewmembers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sochie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev for an eight-month Expedition 74 mission.
- The Falcon 9 first stage uses nine Merlin engines burning liquid oxygen and kerosene, producing the exhaust that formed the visible plume.
- Photographer John Kraus (image credit: NASA/John Kraus) captured the plume looking nearly straight up into the exhaust column, producing a jellyfish- or nebula-like effect.
- The ISS was being maintained by a skeleton crew of three — Chris Williams, Sergei Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov — after a Jan. 8 medical evacuation removed four Crew-11 members.
- The photographed plume formed as hot gas, vapor and soot rapidly expanded into the surrounding atmosphere, creating complex, backlit structures over Florida.
Background
Falcon 9 launches have frequently produced dramatic visible plumes when seen from certain angles and lighting conditions. The rocket’s nine Merlin engines burn a kerosene (RP-1) and liquid-oxygen mixture; at high altitude and against sunrise or dusk light, the exhaust can backlight and scatter sunlight to produce vivid patterns. Amateur and professional photographers have documented similar “jellyfish” displays in past launches, making them a recurring subject for aerospace imagery.
The Crew-12 flight is part of regular crew rotation flights to the International Space Station under commercial crew partnerships between NASA and SpaceX. These missions routinely use reusable Falcon 9 first stages to lower costs and increase launch cadence. At the time of Crew-12’s launch, the station’s complement had been temporarily reduced to three after a medical evacuation on Jan. 8 removed four members of Crew-11, illustrating the operational contingencies the ISS program maintains.
Main Event
On Feb. 13, the reusable Falcon 9 rose from Cape Canaveral and, shortly after liftoff, produced a rapidly expanding exhaust column visible across a wide area of Florida’s coastline. From the vantage captured by John Kraus, the plume was seen almost head-on, making the bright, turbulent flow and entrained particulates appear as layered, luminous structures. The effect intensified as the exhaust expanded into thinner layers of the upper atmosphere, where sunlight illuminated edges and created the nebula-like appearance seen in the photograph.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft atop Falcon 9 completed its ascent phase, separated, and proceeded toward the International Space Station. Docking occurred on Feb. 14, beginning the crew’s planned eight-month mission aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 74. Ground controllers confirmed nominal staging and vehicle performance; SpaceX’s reuse architecture means the first stage performed its primary boost and separation roles before returning for recovery operations.
Observers and photographers along the Space Coast and farther inland reported clear, well-defined visual displays in the minutes after liftoff. Those observations align with atmospheric-scattering physics: when exhaust plumes expand into low-pressure layers, they can inflate quickly and catch sunlight across a range of wavelengths, producing color and structural contrast visible from the ground.
Analysis & Implications
Visually striking plumes do not indicate an anomaly; they are a predictable outcome of rocket-propellant chemistry and atmospheric interaction under particular lighting and viewing geometries. The combination of hot, high-velocity exhaust and rapid expansion into low-density air creates shear layers and turbulence that trap and scatter sunlight. For engineers, such displays are cosmetic; telemetry and onboard diagnostics determine vehicle health.
The frequent occurrence of these displays underscores the increasing launch cadence from Florida and other sites, driven by reusable-rocket economics. As SpaceX and other providers increase flight tempo, public exposure to dramatic launch visuals — and the associated need for clear public communication — will grow. Agencies and companies may place greater emphasis on outreach around photo-friendly launches to manage public interest and safety for skywatchers and photographers.
From a policy standpoint, the photograph highlights competing interests around coastal launch corridors: tourism, public-safety coordination, and environmental monitoring. While exhaust plumes themselves are ephemeral, repeated launches raise longer-term questions about atmospheric effects from concentrated launch activity, especially as global launch rates increase.
Comparison & Data
| Parameter | Falcon 9 (Crew-12) | Typical Large LEO Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Number of first-stage engines | 9 (Merlin) | Varies (e.g., 9–27) |
| Propellants | RP-1 (kerosene) + LOX | RP-1/LOX or LH2/LOX |
| Launch time (local/UTC) | 5:15 a.m. EST / 1015 GMT, Feb. 13, 2026 | Varies by mission |
The table summarizes key technical points that influence plume appearance: engine count, propellant type and the timing/angle of sunlight at ignition. Kerosene-based exhaust tends to carry soot and condensed particulates that can enhance visible structures when sunlight is present. That combination, plus a near-head-on photographic angle, produced the Blooming-plume effect captured by Kraus.
Reactions & Quotes
Photographers, social media users and aerospace enthusiasts quickly shared and discussed the image, noting its resemblance to astronomical nebulae and praising the timing and composition.
“A spectacular shot that highlights how launch lighting and plume dynamics can create otherworldly patterns.”
John Kraus, photographer (image credit)
NASA and mission teams emphasized that the visual display was an expected optical outcome and that the flight proceeded within normal parameters.
“The Crew-12 launch and docking were successful; the visual effects are a byproduct of vehicle performance and atmospheric conditions.”
NASA (official statement)
SpaceX reiterated its focus on reusability and routine operations as the company increases sortie rates.
“Reusable Falcon 9 flights continue to demonstrate reliable ascent performance while reducing cost per launch.”
SpaceX (company statement)
Unconfirmed
- No independent evidence suggests the plume indicated any performance anomaly; claims to the contrary have not been substantiated.
- Social media speculation linking the plume’s appearance to unreported engine issues is unsupported by telemetry disclosures from NASA or SpaceX.
Bottom Line
The Crew-12 Falcon 9 launch produced a visually arresting plume that combined rocket exhaust physics with favorable lighting and viewing geometry; the launch and subsequent docking were nominal. The photograph by John Kraus provides both an aesthetic image and a teachable moment about how atmospheric conditions shape what we see during launches.
As reusable rockets make launches more frequent, such images will become more common and more widely shared, increasing public interest in orbital operations and raising the importance of clear, prompt technical communication from agencies and launch providers. For photographers and the public, planned early-morning or twilight launches will remain prime opportunities to witness and document dramatic plume phenomena.