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SpaceX sends rocket into space from historic Pad 39A

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Apr 17, 2024 — 1 min read

Elon Musk's company SpaceX has successfully launched its unmanned Dragon capsule into space from the same NASA launch pad used by the Apollo astronauts to reach the Moon. The mission, which took place on Wednesday, marks the first time a private company has launched a spacecraft from the legendary Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Among the cargo onboard the Dragon capsule is a NASA experiment to study the origins of beneficial bacteria on Earth, as well as a tissue chip that will be used to study the effects of space on humans. This experiment could help develop new treatments for diseases. The launch went off without a hitch, reaching low Earth orbit about 12 minutes after takeoff.

SpaceX's chief engineer, Hans Koenigsmann, told reporters that the launch was a "test of what we expect to be a pretty busy year for us," with plans to launch astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA in the coming months.

This launch also represents a small milestone in the relatively young history of privately funded space companies. In 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit. Since then, companies like Virgin Orbit have also achieved similar feats.

Musk, who is reportedly stepping down as CEO of Twitter when he finds a replacement, tweeted a congratulatory message to the SpaceX team following the successful launch.

"Tremendous gratitude to the SpaceX team, iterating intensely to perfect every aspect of Dragon missions," he wrote.

With this mission complete, the Dragon capsule will now attach to the International Space Station, where it will be loaded with experimental results and discarded material from previous experiments. After about a month, the capsule will return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of Florida.

SpaceX has stated that it plans to launch as many as 100 rockets this year, including four more Dragon flights to the International Space Station. The company also plans to launch its massive Starship rocket, which is meant to eventually carry humans to the Moon and Mars.

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