SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket at 10:43 a.m. EDT. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.
CAPE CANAVERAL – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) launched the first Falcon 9/Dragon demonstration flight for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. SpaceX attempted to launch at 9:06 a.m. EDT – however this was not to be – an abort was called. The old saying if first you don’t succeed, try, try again – worked well for the NewSpace firm, with a successful launch happening at 10:43 a.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 with its Dragon spacecraft payload lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 40 in Florida searing a path through the clear southern skies on this attempt.
UPDATE: SpaceX reports that the Dragon capsule has successfully made 2 orbits and has now splashed down. We’ll have more from a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
See more images and launch video below. (…) Read the rest of SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 carrying Dragon spacecraft (355 words)
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(C) Jason Rhian for Universe Today, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us Post
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