Falcon 9 and Dragon Liftoff

Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is illuminated by a Falcon 9 rocket as it lifts off on Oct. 7, 2012 carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit.

Engines Ignite for SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida comes alive as the Merlin engines ignite under the Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit on Oct. 7, 2012.

Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Off

Plumes of exhaust and smoke billow around the lightning masts on Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on Oct. 7, 2012 carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit.

SpaceX's Dragon Capsule Rises off the Pad

SpaceX's robotic Dragon capsule lifts off the pad atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 7, 2012, kicking off the first-ever bona fide supply run for a private American spaceship.

Falcon 9 and Dragon Liftoff

Liftoff of Falcon 9 and Dragon from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Fl. on Oct. 7, 2012.

Falcon 9 rocket Lifts Off

A rumble is heard across the Space Coast as a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Oct. 7, 2012, carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit.

Looking Down on Dragon's Launch

A view looking down at SpaceX's Dragon capsule as it lifts off the pad on Oct. 7, 2012.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Launch

Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is illuminated by a Falcon 9 rocket as it lifts off on Oct. 7, 2012 carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit.

SpaceX's Falcon 9

Plumes of exhaust and smoke billow around the lightning masts on Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off on Oct. 7, 2012 carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit.

Falcon 9 and Dragon Liftoff

At Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule lifts off on Oct. 7, 2012.

Dragon Launches on First Cargo Run to Space Station

SpaceX's unmanned Dragon capsule launches toward the International Space Station on Oct. 7, 2012, kicking off the first-ever bona fide cargo run for a private American spaceship.

Dragon Streaks into the Sky

SpaceX's unmanned Dragon capsule rises into the Florida sky on the night of Oct. 7, 2012.

Dragon Rides High on the Falcon 9

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket streaks through the skies above Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit on Oct. 7, 2012.

SpaceX Employees Watch Dragon Launch

SpaceX employees at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif. watch the unmanned Dragon capsule blast off toward the International Space Station on Oct. 7, 2012.

Dragon Spacecraft Solar Wings Deployed: CRS-1

This view from a camera aboard SpaceX's Dragon space capsule shows one of the spacecraft's solar arrays deployed just after its successful launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Oct. 7, 2012. The Dragon capsule is flying the first-ever commercial cargo mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Night View

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon space capsule stand poised to launch to the International Space Station just one hour before liftoff (8:35 p.m. ET) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Oct. 7, 2012.

Space Dragon Mission Patch

The official insignia for SpaceX's first NASA-contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station, CRS-1.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Poised for Launch

SpaceX's first cargo-carrying Dragon spacecraft stands atop its Falcon 9 rocket to fly the first commercial supply mission to the International Space Station on Oct. 7, 2012, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Close-Up View of SpaceX's Falcon 9

In a close-up view, the Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon capsule attached on top begins a rollout demonstration test to Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This image was taken Oct. 2, 2012.

Dragon Spacecraft Preparation

A Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, Dragon spacecraft is being prepared for the company's first Commercial Resupply Services, or CRS-1, mission to the International Space Station. This image was taken Sept. 30, 2012.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rolls Out

The Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon capsule attached on top is lifted into the vertical position during a rollout demonstration test at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This image was taken Oct. 2, 2012.

SpaceX Dragon Meets Falcon 9

Technicians move a SpaceX Dragon capsule into place at the nose of the company's Falcon 9 rocket during preparations to launch the spacecraft on a cargo flight to the International Space Station.

How SpaceX's Dragon Space Capsule Works (Infographic)

A look inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule and its Falcon 9 rocket.

Falcon 9 and Dragon Liftoff

Liftoff of Falcon 9 and Dragon from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Fl. on Oct. 7, 2012.

Fans Watching Liftoff

Fans watch the CRS-1 Dragon launch to the International Space Station at Cape Canaveral, FL on Oct. 7, 2012.

SpaceX Employee Watches CRS-1 Launch

SpaceX employee watching from Hawthorne HQ from Oct. 7, 2012.

SpaceX Dragon Launches on 1st Space Station Cargo Trip (Photos)

Date: 07 October 2012 Time: 08:35 PM ET
MORE ALBUMS
Go