Wired: "They’ve done it again. Space Exploration Technologies launched its Falcon 9 rocket into earth orbit on its inaugural flight today, a key milestone in the startup’s plan to take cargo into space once the last of the space shuttles retires.
The two stage, 180-foot rocket left the pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at about 2:45 p.m. Eastern. It achieved earth orbit nine minutes later. The lauch this afternoon followed several delays earlier in the day including a sailboat that had wandered into an off limits area near the launch site and an attempt that was aborted just seconds before ignition due to an engine related issue."
