SpaceX Launch: Falcon 9 Rocket Blasts Off On Historic Trip To International Space Station (VIDEO)

Photo by NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral early Tuesday morning.

The 3:44 a.m. launch followed numerous technical delays, including an aborted attempt on May 19.

Built by private spaceflight company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the cargo rocket will carry the firm's unmanned Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. If successful, it will be the first non-governmental spaceship to rendezvous and berth at the station during a mission sponsored by NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program.

According to Space.com, the Falcon 9 mission is the final test before SpaceX can begin running regular delivery missions to the outpost. The company has already signed a $1.6 billion contract to fly at least 12 of these missions.

Comments

[AmericCanuck]

02:02 PM on 05/22/2012

Finally, private enterprise catches up the the US Federal Government. Welcome to 1964.

[erhuh]

12:56 PM on 05/22/2012

Fantastic news.

As of right now everything is reported as 100% but there are still several days of testing before they berth Dragon at ISS.

But whatever happens, the Falcon 9 is 3 for 3.

[edavies19]

11:40 AM on 05/22/2012

Awesome stuff! Found a great preview to this story here - http://blog.floridaholidays.co.uk/final-shuttle-flight-marks-commercial-space-race - spaceX interview and discusses how the end of the shuttle era coincided with this. Nice pics and very interesting :-)

[Bushman68]

08:36 AM on 05/22/2012

Wait, private sector in space? This can't be right. Someone call POTUS. We need to go back to NASA and waste billions of dollars!

[vyskol]

10:55 AM on 05/22/2012

Right. Because that 10 billion dollar drop in the bucket for science and advancement could be much better spent paying for a month in Afghanistan.

[Bushman68]

11:15 AM on 05/22/2012

Why would you want to spend it in Afghanistan? How about...don't spend it because we don't have it.

[road side]

07:17 AM on 05/22/2012

Dont forget to bring them Timmy's...A!

[KBinMN]

07:14 AM on 05/22/2012

If there has ever been a President that did not understand the meaning of national prestige - it MUST be Obama. Saul never taught him this lesson it seems. Even is Bush decided to cancel the SS program, notice he didn't do it on his watch. How does one spell gullible - Obama?

[erhuh]

12:57 PM on 05/22/2012

The COTs program started in 2006. I wonder who was President....

[Rabindra Permesar]

03:49 PM on 05/23/2012

Shut up bush sucks. A broken clock is still right twice a day.

[barrada nicto]

07:12 AM on 05/22/2012

Fantastic!

[KBinMN]

07:10 AM on 05/22/2012

2020 news - The Space Princess Cruise line firm was alleged to have been found dumping garbage into orbit in violation of the UN Near-Space Agreements. SPC denied the allegation and promised a full investigation. In the interim many critical space-based platforms were left exposed to deadly impacts from the alleged garbage.

[KBinMN]

07:01 AM on 05/22/2012

Update - The Exxon space Valdez has accidently collided with the ISS. The materials generated are expected to remain in orbit for several years possibly damaging communication, weather and navigation aids in addition to placiing sensitive military assets at risk.

[jsarets]

06:50 AM on 05/22/2012

Update: The Dragon spacecraft has successfully opened its sensor bay and activated the star tracker for precise navigation on orbit.

[KBinMN]

06:43 AM on 05/22/2012

Boy, oh boy! Maybe we can all be in a position that only Halliburton, et al can place US personnel into space. A win for Obama, no?

[Kasado]

06:38 AM on 05/22/2012

I am glad that SpaceX took the time, patience, and risk of criticism to do this launch right. The last thing they needed was a disaster at this early stage of what I hope will be the public sectors continued support of the space industry.

[vidtrainer110]

06:36 AM on 05/22/2012

Awesome! More more more....the beginning of a new era of less expensive more efficient space travel is upon us. It will only get better from here. SpaceX will deliver a manned rocket in 2-3 more years and no more Russian trips. Finally, we might be getting to Better, Faster, Cheaper....

[KBinMN]

06:30 AM on 05/22/2012

Hey, maybe next to save a buck we can ask the Chinese for some troop carrier ships to move our troops around the globe? Why not????

[Kiri the Unicorn]

06:49 AM on 05/22/2012

Why do I get the feeling that if NASA got every penny it wanted, you would be first in line to scream about the expense?

[KBinMN]

06:51 AM on 05/22/2012

25-cents per person? I highlt doubt it. Check my comments frm all over the web for proof.

[Stormlight]

08:59 AM on 05/22/2012

China already makes a majority of the parts for all your troops gear, and vehicle parts.

[OverseasVet]

06:27 AM on 05/22/2012

NASA can use it Paypal account to buy these from Amazon.