The launch went without a hitch. Image Credit: NASA / SpaceX
The private space firm has successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The success marks the first time that any commercial rocket has taken off from Pad 39a - the same pad from which the legendary Apollo Moon missions were once launched.
The rocket was carrying a Dragon cargo capsule bound for the International Space Station.
The launch had been scheduled for Saturday but was aborted with a mere 13 seconds left on the countdown clock after an unexpected reading was picked up from the rocket's second stage.
The capsule, which is due to rendezvous with the space station on Tuesday morning, is carrying supplies as well as a payload of scientific equipment and experiments.
"You can see that this particular SpaceX launch is going to keep our crew busy," said Tara Ruttley, associate scientist for the ISS program. "It keeps us busy every day."
I'm liking that they're taking precautions and not taking any small reading with a grain of salt. This truly is the future of space flight in the making. Great time to be alive.
Yes that was an improvement. As for the future of space flight have you heard of Rocketlab? Keep an eye peeled down under, I'm guessing we'll be seeing some amazing sights on the horizon yet. http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11801629
There are closer shots of the landing (including on-board footage), but SpaceX haven't released them as a video yet.Compared to NASA they are a little slow releasing pictures and video.
SpaceX supply ship completes journey to space station And just one day later: Russian freighter links up with International Space Station It's certainly busy up there this week.
*watches the video of the first stage landing* Nope, still not getting bored of watching this stuff. Can't wait for the first launch of the Falcon Heavy...
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