Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 F3 COTS2+ Updates

[Unstung]

Main Engine Cut Off, stage separation

 

[Codz]

Congratulations SpaceX!

 

[sorindafabico]

Dragon on orbit.

 

[NovaSilisko]

Pretty much me on liftoff:

 

[Artlav]

Good to see it launched.
But don't relax yet - this may still turn into the third orbital fender-bender.

 

[sorindafabico]

Solar arrays deployed!

 

[mahdavi3d]

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=77777

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Spaceflight is really a global thing: the last time I heard such a loud cheer for solar arrays deployment is during the Shenzhou 8 mission last year!

Of course, the real challenges are coming up, so here's hoping for success all the way to splashdown and return to dry land!

 

[mojoey]

Dragon has officially spread it's wings!

 

[jgrillo2002]

Very good. Orbit of the dragon is as follows

346km Apogee
297km Perigee

 

[Codz]

Awesome space feed by SpaceX.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Glad I set my clock so I could watch that one. Even if they are not able (for some reason) to dock on this mission (lets face it, there are a lot of milestones to meet), hopefully this will open the eyes of some congressional boneheads to open up the checkbook and fund COTS.

 

[Codz]

Best launch since MSL.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Capture of the Dragon by ISS's robotic arm is planned at 12:06 UTC (8:06 am EDT) on May 25.

 

[IronRain]

Launch video:

 

[orb]

Parabolic Arc: CSF Congratulates SpaceX, NASA on Dragon Launch

Aviation Week: SpaceX Dragon Lifts Off for ISS

collectSPACE: SpaceX launches commercial spacecraft on first flight to space station

Florida Today: SpaceX's Dragon capsule on way to International Space Station

CBS News Space: SpaceX rocket takes off on commercial flight to space station

Universe Today: SpaceX Successfully Launches Dragon Into Orbit

Space News: SpaceX Falcon 9 Delivers Dragon to Orbit

SPACE.com:

• SpaceX Launches Private Capsule on Historic Trip to Space Station
  
  
• Launch Pictures: SpaceX's Dragon Capsule Roars to Space Station

Replay from NASAKennedy:

and NASAtelevision:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHjPMg-Lin8"]SPACEX LAUNCHES DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT TOWARDS ISS - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Ripley]

From SpaceFlightNow:

The White House has issued a statement from John Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology.

"Congratulations to the teams at SpaceX and NASA for this morning’s successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Every launch into space is a thrilling event, but this one is especially exciting because it represents the potential of a new era in American spaceflight."

 

[orb]

NASA:

• RELEASE : 12-161 - SpaceX Launches NASA Demonstration Mission to Space Station
  
  
• SpaceX Launches Falcon 9/Dragon on Historic Mission
  
  
• MEDIA ADVISORY : M12-092 - NASA Administrator to Address Media after SpaceX Launch:

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will address media representatives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:00 a.m. EDT following Tuesday's SpaceX NASA demonstration flight launch to the International Space Station.
  
  The event, held in front of the Kennedy Press Site countdown clock, will be carried live on NASA Television.
  Following the administrator's remarks, he will conduct one-on-one interviews with reporters in attendance.
  
  {...}

 

[N_Molson]

Good. It was time for USA to launch another potentially manned spacecraft, I think.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Good news:

Dragon spaceship opens the navigation pod bay door without hesitation. So much nicer than HAL9000 #DragonLaunch

Edit: And another one!

Navigation bay pointing to deep space and star map being generated by star tracker one. Yes! #DragonLaunch