SpaceX Rocket Launch: Another Chance to Watch From Anderson, SC

Remember those incredible streaks of light across the Upstate sky? There may be another opportunity to catch a rocket launch from right here in Anderson.

On August 25, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Florida was spotted by residents across Upstate South Carolina. Early risers saw a bright trail and, in some locations, a glowing, jellyfish-like plume against the morning sky.

Another Falcon 9 launch on October 13 produced a spectacular illuminated cloud visible across portions of the East Coast, reminding skywatchers just how dramatic a launch can look before sunrise.

Circle Tuesday, October 20

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, October 20, 2026, for its Bandwagon-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The launch window opens at 6:30 a.m. Eastern and runs for one hour. The launch has been rescheduled from its earlier October 19 target; check the official SpaceX mission page for any further changes.

Bandwagon-5 is a rideshare mission carrying multiple small satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

Could we see it from Anderson?

Possibly, but visibility is not guaranteed. A clear horizon, favorable weather, the rocket's direction of travel and the timing of liftoff will all matter.

The August launch demonstrated that a Falcon 9 departing Florida can sometimes be visible hundreds of miles away in the Upstate. That does not mean every Florida launch follows a path that offers the same view.

Because the October 20 window begins shortly before sunrise in Anderson, there is at least a chance for an interesting contrast between the dark ground-level sky and sunlight reaching a high-altitude exhaust plume.

How to give yourself a better chance

Choose a safe outdoor spot with an open view toward the southeastern horizon, away from bright lights and tall trees if possible.

Arrive before the scheduled window begins, since the brightest portion of a launch can happen quickly and the exact liftoff time may shift.

Keep an eye on the official launch webcast and updates rather than relying on the original schedule alone.

Want to capture some really cool pictures?

A smartphone can work surprisingly well if you steady it against a solid surface or use a tripod. Turn off the flash, clean the lens and try a night or low-light setting if your phone has one.

Start with a wider view so you do not lose the rocket while searching the sky. Once you find the trail, take several photos or a short video and adjust exposure if the glowing plume looks washed out.

For a longer light trail, a camera on a tripod with a slower shutter speed may help, though settings will depend on the brightness and movement.

Remember that a launch can be delayed or scrubbed with little notice, and clouds can block the show entirely.

Even if the rocket is not visible from Anderson, the live broadcast offers a front-row seat to the mission.

And if the sky cooperates? You might end up with a photo worth showing the whole neighborhood.

For the latest launch window and the live webcast, check the official SpaceX Bandwagon-5 mission page. For a look back at the August sighting, see the earlier FOX Carolina report.