SpaceX Successfully Launches Rocket From NASA's Kennedy Space Center
From the historic launchpad used for the first moon-landing mission.
After a minor setback on Saturday causing SpaceX to cancel its rocket launch 13 seconds before liftoff, Elon Musk’s aerospace company successfully sent its Falcon 9 into space this morning. Musk posted on Twitter that while the original mission was considered to be 99% fine on the readings, it wasn’t worth the slight risk, which resulted in an extra day to address any technical issues.
Btw, 99% likely to be fine (closed loop TVC wd overcome error), but that 1% chance isn't worth rolling the dice. Better to wait a day.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 18, 2017
The privately-owned rocket was sent to the International Space Station carrying a Dragon cargo ship with 5,500 pounds of supplies, and is expected to land on Wednesday. The event marks the Kennedy Space Center’s first commercial launch since SpaceX leased some of its facilities that were no longer being used by NASA. Launchpad 39A holds historic significance as home of the last shuttle mission in 2011, along with the groundbreaking Apollo 11 mission which resulted in the first moon landing. SpaceX and Boeing are also planning on using the Kennedy to begin astronaut missions starting in 2018.
Right on schedule, solar arrays have been deployed on @SpaceX #Dragon cargo spacecraft. Watch: https://t.co/mzKW5uDsTi pic.twitter.com/NCqYrCNR7x
— NASA (@NASA) February 19, 2017
