Space Exploration Technologies successfully put its first Dragon capsule into orbit on Wednesday for a test run around the planet for NASA.
NEWS: Is the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft Safe?
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 10:43 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The company missed its first launch opportunity when a bad radio signal triggered an abort three minutes before the planned 9:06 a.m. liftoff.
The company, also known as SpaceX, quickly regrouped and was ready when its next launch opportunity came. The rocket, powered by nine liquid oxygen and kerosene-fueled Merlin engines -- also developed by SpaceX -- ignited with a burst of flame, sending the 157.8-foot tall rocket soaring over the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX, which was webcasting the launch, cut off coverage as the rocket's second-stage engine completed its burn and separated from the Dragon capsule. The company said in a Twitter post that Dragon's onboard propulsion system was starting up.
If all goes as planned, the capsule will stay in orbit for about three hours, completing two spins around the planet, to test out its thrusters and other flight systems. The hardest part of the mission -- after launch -- will be when Dragon fires its thrusters to leave orbit and plummets through the atmosphere, putting its heat shield through a workout that could not be simulated on Earth.
Splash down in the Pacific Ocean is expected around 2:02 p.m. EST off the coast of Mexico.
UPDATE: Photographs from inside the Dragon capsule, looking into space:
Images: SpaceX's second Falcon 9 rocket soars off its Cape Canaveral, Fla., launch pad (top); the view from inside the Dragon capsule while in orbit (bottom) Credit: NASA, SpaceX
Tags: Astronauts, NASA, Private Spaceflight
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