New Smyrna Beach resident Sylvan McElroy marvels at SpaceX launch

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. --  SpaceX’s Falcon 9 successfully launched the Inspiration4 mission – the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit – from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida.

Approximately three days after liftoff, Dragon and the crew of Inspiration4 will splash down at one of several possible landing sites off the Florida coast. Follow Dragon’s journey in the tracker above as the Inspiration4 crew orbits Earth approximately every 90 minutes.

"It's always awesome when there's a launch just after sunset or just before dawn."

So says New Smyrna Beach resident Sylvan McElroy.

"You get this amazing glow of the ice crystals in the upper atmosphere from the sunlight below the horizon - not sure what flat-Earthers say about this," McElroy posted on his Facebook page. "This was a few minutes tonight after the Space X launch of Inspiration 4 from Bethune Beach."

Inspiration4 is commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Joining him are Medical Officer Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor; Mission Specialist Chris Sembroski, an Air Force veteran and aerospace data engineer; and Mission Pilot Dr. Sian Proctor, a geoscientist, entrepreneur, and trained pilot.

Mission Objectives:

• Raise $200 million for St. Jude -  The Inspiration4 mission is part of Jared’s ambitious fundraising goal to give hope to all kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Visit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to learn how you can help the Inspiration4 crew reach their $200M fundraising goal.

• Study the human body in space - During their multi-day journey in orbit, the Inspiration4 crew will conduct scientific research designed to advance human health on Earth and during future long-duration spaceflights.