Watch Video: SpaceX 2 Dragon Mission to ISS Underway after Successful Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Today

Status Update: SpaceX 2 Dragon Mission to ISS Underway after Successful Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Today

credit: NASA/Tony Gray and Robert Murray

At ten minutes after 10AM eastern time today, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Atop the rocket was another Dragon making the company’s second flight to bring supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) – and the third flight to the ISS including the demonstration flight last May. Video replay of the SpaceX launch and mission status update follows below.

Just over an hour after reaching orbit for mission SpaceX 2, SpaceX confirmed that all was progressing well for the Dragon spacecraft. “One thruster pod is running. Two are preferred to take the next step which is to deploy the solar arrays. We are working to bring up the other two pods in order to plan the next series of burns to get to station.”

After some initial issues with the thruster pods, by early this afternoon, SpaceX indicated that all four of Dragon’s thruster pods were operating perfectly. At least two thrusters would be needed for the rendezvous with the ISS.

With the thruster pods online and the solar arrays successfully deployed, SpaceX is on pace for the next rendezvous opportunity with the ISS early on Sunday. While they await the time to link up to re-supply the ISS astronauts, the company continues to perform system tests and orbital maneuvers.

Watch the complete video of the SpaceX 2 Falcon 9 Rocket Launch carrying the Dragon Spacecraft into orbit. The 4 minute launch video follows the spacecraft into orbit including booster separation. Watch the video below:

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D Robert Curry - with over 2 decades of experience in the IT sector and an avid aviator, Mr. Curry covers all Science & Technology and Aviation realted news stories. drcurry@newstaar.com