VIDEO: SpaceX Successful Launch of Falcon 9
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Tue, May 22) – Pioneering a new era in private space flight, the US company SpaceX on Tuesday became the first commercial company to launch its own spacecraft toward the International Space Station (ISS).
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off early Tuesday, at about 3:44 a.m. EDT, carrying a reusable cargo capsule ‘Dragon’ filled with a load of supplies for the International Space Station (ISS).
"Three, two, one and launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as NASA turns to the private sector to resupply the International Space Station," said NASA commentator George Diller, as the spacecraft blasted off at 3:44 am (0744 GMT).
Contrary to Saturday’s aborted liftoff, all of nine engines of the Falcon 9 rocket kept firing all the way through liftoff this time. A faulty valve of engine 5 was replaced on Sunday by SapceX engineers.
Continue reading and watch the first video of historical launch below:
