SpaceX's first space station-bound Dragon spacecraft, flying atop a Falcon 9 rocket, launches behind a high fidelity mockup of the space shuttle, NASA's previous means of delivering cargo to International Space Station. Liftoff occurred on May 22, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
SpaceX tweeted this photo of the Falcon 9 launch on May 22, 2012. The company wrote: "Incredible shot of Falcon 9 launch (photo credit: James Fink) pic.twitter.com/M97rrNfY."
SpaceX tweeted this image taken by the Dragon capsule in orbit on May 22, 2012. The company wrote: "Earth as seen by a thermal imager that Dragon will use in its approach to the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/jxv6t3et."
SpaceX tweeted this photo of the Dragon's spacecraft interior in space on May 22, 2012. The company wrote: "First look inside Dragon in orbit. pic.twitter.com/IEx7UhPo."
View from SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft looking outward at one of two solar array panels in the process of deploying. Image released May 22, 2012.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk stands before cheering SpaceX employees at their Los Angeles facility following the successful launch of their Falcon 9 rocket on May 22, 2012.
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Space Launch Complex-40 is ablaze as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on May 22, 2012.
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Space Launch Complex-40 is ablaze as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on May 22, 2012.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket roars into space at 3:44 a.m. EDT on May 20, 2012, from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Space Launch Complex-40 is ablaze as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on May 22, 2012.
The Falcon 9 rocket's engines ignite on the SpaceX launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, May 22, 2012.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into the predawn sky above Florida carrying the unmanned Dragon capsule on the first-ever commercial flight to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
This view shows a bright red second stage engine on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, as the booster launches the unmanned Dragon capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into the predawn sky above Florida carrying the unmanned Dragon capsule on the first-ever commercial flight to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Launch spectators cheer on the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft shortly after liftoff on May 22, 2012.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches the unmanned Dragon capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into space from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 3:44 a.m. EDT on May 22, 2012, carrying the Dragon capsule to orbit.
This still from a SpaceX webcast shows the planned trajectory of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first Dragon capsule to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012.
The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 22, 2012.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden takes questions from the media at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful SpaceX demonstration flight launch to the International Space Station
SpaceX launch controllers in Cape Canaveral, Fla. react to the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragonc apsule into orbit.
This view from a SpaceX rocket shows a top view of a Falcon 9 rocket atop its Cape Canaveral Air Force Station launch pad just before a May 22, 2012 launch of its Dragon space capsule.
The Dragon spacecraft being rotated before it is mated to the Falcon 9 rocket in SpaceX’s hangar in Cape Canaveral, FL.
SpaceX fuels the Falcon 9 rocket carrying its first space station-bound Dragon capsule at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 22, 2012.
Artist’s rendition of the Dragon spacecraft at the International Space Station.
This still from a NASA webcast shows the location of SpaceX's Florida launch site for the Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands topped with an unmanned Dragon space capsule - the first commercial spacecraft ever to launch to the International Space Station - on May 17, 2012. The rocket and Dragon are due to launch on May 19, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
This photo shows the view from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket's second stage looking down at the launch pad. The booster successfully carried the Dragon capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012.
SpaceX's first Falcon 9 rocket launching toward the International Space Station ignites its nine main engines briefly in this NASA photo shortly before aborting the launch try on May 19, 2012 due to an unexpected engine sensor reading. The Falcon 9 rocket will now launch the Dragon cargo capsule to the space station on May 22.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first Dragon spacecraft bound for the International Space Station is seen resting atop SpaceX’s launch site in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
SpaceX engineers prepare for the launch at SpaceX’s launch control center in Cape Canaveral, FL.
COTS 2 mission patch.
SpaceX mission controllers in Hawthorne, Calif. watch as the Falcon 9 rocket carries the Dragon capsule into orbit. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, with arms raised, is in the center of the front row.
