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Michael R. Brown / Reuters
The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 22, 2012.
Space.com reports from CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private space capsule called Dragon soared into the predawn sky Tuesday, riding a pillar of flame like its beastly namesake on a history-making trip to the International Space Station.
The unmanned capsule, built by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX venture, is the first non-governmental spacecraft to launch to the space station, ushering in a new era of partnership between the public and private spaceflight programs. Read the full story.
Pierre Ducharme / Reuters
The rocket blasted off on Tuesday for a mission designed to be the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. The mock shuttle Explorer, in the foreground, had been on display at the Kennedy Space Center Complex, and will be moved to the Johnson Space Center in Houston this week in order to make room for the arrival of Space Shuttle Atlantis.
John Raoux / AP
The lift-off is seen in a long-exposure photo.
An unmanned rocket owned by privately held Space Exploration Technologies blasted off from Cape Canaveral on a mission designed to be the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. Msbnc.com's Dara Brown reports.
NASA/SDO/AIA
Click through a solar eruption, the final odyssey of the shuttle Discovery and other outer-space highlights from April 2012.
Leave a Comment:
Yep, we'll be riding to the space station in a private vehicle piloted by a foreigner. And if you're from out of town and don't know the shortest route, the fare goes up.
...Just need to make sure your transfer tickets are in order!
A new idea for a Cash Cab spinoff?
Here we go with the private sector taking over our space program.
dislike
Human beings have been sending items into space for well over 60 years. Most of the technology needed to get people into space has been around for over 50 years. We don't really need to have only government paid for space exploration. It is time to start to have space profiteers going forth and making money.
Like any area, government initially does what is needed to open it up, but for anything to happen, there has to be a profit motive.
This is the new era of Public-Private partnership. What with the USA in recession and funds drying up this is a good move. Hope this Public-Private partnership soars to the Next High Level. The USA takes the Lead in Space. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)