Wednesday, December 8, 2010

SpaceX Successfully Launches

Hawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, has had a successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, according to NASA this morning. NASA said that the Falcon 9 successfully launched at 10:43 a.m. EST, from the Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The flight is the first demonstration flight for the Falcon 9 for NASA, which is looking to use the Falcon and its corresponding Dragon capsule to resupply the International Space Station. NASA said that the Dragon capsule has separated from the second stage of the Falcon 9 and is in orbit; the capsule is expected to return to earth, landing in the Pacific Ocean about 500 west of the coast of Mexico.