SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launched

SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft on Wednesday at 10:43 a.m. EST from NASA’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

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.

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