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 liftedoff 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).
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| SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket's Successful Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Station |
"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.
Read Saturday's story of Falcon 9 Failed Launch, HERE.
Read Saturday's story of Falcon 9 Failed Launch, HERE.
The test flight of the Dragon space capsule, which launched atop SpaceX's
Falcon 9 rocket, aims to show that commercial industry can restore US access to
the ISS after NASA retired its space shuttle fleet last year.
The real test comes Thursday when the Dragon reaches the surroundings of the
International Space Station (ISS). It will undergo practice maneuvers from more
than a mile out. If all goes well, the docking will occur on Friday (May 25).
Watch exciting videos of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 liftoff carrying Dragon Cargo
Capsule:
SOURCE: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/story/2012-05-22/SpaceX-rocket-space-station/55126570/1
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