Launch Photos: SpaceX's Next-Gen Falcon 9 Rocket Soars on 1st Flight

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Upgraded Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Off

Credit: SpaceX

The upgraded Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a successful demonstration mission to deliver the CASSIOPE satellite to orbit. Launch took place on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the full story.]

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Falcon 9 Lifts Off from SpaceX’s Pad at Vandenberg, September 2013

Credit: SpaceX

Falcon 9 lifts off from SpaceX’s pad at Vandenberg, carrying Canada's CASSIOPE satellite to orbit. Launch took place on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the full story.]

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Distant Press View of Falcon 9 Launch

Credit: Rod Pyle

SpaceX's improved Falcon 9 left the pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sept. 29, 2013, at just after 9 am (local time). The press watched from a remote viewing site, as the blowtorch-like flame ascended. [Read the full story.]

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Kaylee Ausbun Watches Launch of Improved Falcon 9

Credit: Rod Pyle

Kaylee Ausbun, the Air Force officer in charge of public affairs for this launch, smiles with relief as SpaceX's improved Falcon 9 rocket departs the launch pad on Sunday. To her left is Jim Spellman of the Western Spaceport chapter of the National Space Society. [Read the full story.]

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Members of the Press View Falcon 9 Launch

Credit: Rod Pyle

Assembled members of the press watch as SpaceX's improved Falcon 9 rocket departs the pad on Sunday morning, Sept. 29, 2013, at Vandenburg Air Force Base, CA. [Read the full story.]

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Vandenberg Air Force Base Sign

Credit: Rod Pyle

Vandenberg Air Force Base in central California hosted the Sept. 29, 2013, launch of SpaceX's improved Falcon 9 rocket. Launching from the west coast allows SpaceX to place payloads into polar orbits, often essential for military satellites. [Read the full story.]

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LIFTOFF! SpaceX's New Falcon 9 Rocket Launches

Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX's first next-generation Falcon 9 rocket launches on its debut test flight from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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CASSIOPE Satellite Revealed: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

Credit: SpaceX

Canada's CASSIOPE space weather satellite can be seen atop the second stage of SpaceX's first upgraded Falcon 9 rocket in this view from a camera on the booster, just after payload fairing separation, during a test flight that launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Test: 2nd Stage

Credit: SpaceX

The second stage engine of SpaceX's new upgraded Falcon 9 rocket ignites during a test flight on Sept. 29, 2013 that launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Test: Stage Separation

Credit: SpaceX

The first stage of SpaceX's upgraded Falcon 9 rocket can be seen falling away in this view from a camera on the rocket's second stage after a test launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1: Launch View Down

Credit: SpaceX

A camera aboard SpaceX's first upgraded Falcon 9 rocket shows the view down after launching from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1: Split View

Credit: SpaceX

A split view of the first upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1 Ready

Credit: SpaceX

An upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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CASSIOPE Satellite Artist's Concept

Credit: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.

Artist's concept of the Cascade Smallsat and Ionospheric Polar Explorer (CASSIOPE) satellite. The Canadian Space Agency satellite launched into orbit aboard SpaceX's new upgraded Falcon 9 rocket. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Octaweb

Credit: SpaceX

The new circular Octaweb engine arrangement of SpaceX's nine Falcon 9 Merlin 1D engines is seen in this image. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1

Credit: SpaceX

An upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in September 2013. Liftoff set for Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX New Falcon 9 Engine Test

Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX's new upgraded Falcon 9 rocket undergoes an static fire engine test on Sept. 19, 2013 ahead of a Sept. 29 launch testfrom Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. [Read the Full Story Here]

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1 Atop Pad

Credit: SpaceX

An upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in September 2013. Liftoff set for Sept. 29, 2013. [Read the Full Story Here]

Launch Photos: SpaceX's Next-Gen Falcon 9 Rocket Soars on 1st Flight

Upgraded Falcon 9 Rocket Lifts Off

Falcon 9 Lifts Off from SpaceX’s Pad at Vandenberg, September 2013

Distant Press View of Falcon 9 Launch

Kaylee Ausbun Watches Launch of Improved Falcon 9

Members of the Press View Falcon 9 Launch

Vandenberg Air Force Base Sign

LIFTOFF! SpaceX's New Falcon 9 Rocket Launches

CASSIOPE Satellite Revealed: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Test: 2nd Stage

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Test: Stage Separation

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1: Launch View Down

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1: Split View

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1 Ready

CASSIOPE Satellite Artist's Concept

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Octaweb

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1

SpaceX New Falcon 9 Engine Test

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1 Atop Pad

Tariq Malik

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