For the second time this month, residents across Marion, Lake, and Sumter counties were treated to a brilliant visual display in the pre-dawn sky as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaked into orbit.
On Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, SpaceX successfully launched its Bandwagon-5 mission, sending a rideshare payload of satellites into a mid-inclination low Earth orbit.
The launch, which was initially scrubbed on Oct. 19 due to poor recovery zone weather, was captured by numerous local residents who submitted photos and videos of the rocket’s luminous exhaust plume.
The flight utilized Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1085, marking the booster’s 19th successful flight.
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