Second attempt to launch commercial rocket a success so far

SPACE.com : Space Exploration Technologies ( SpaceX ), a private spaceflight company, succeeded on its second attempt to launch its new commercial rocketâmdash;Falcon 9âmdash;from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 14:45 EDT today. The previous attempt, 90 minutes earlier, failed two seconds before ignition when the rocket went into a safe mode. The rocket is designed to replace the soon-to-be decommissioned space shuttle as a means of hauling cargo to the International Space Station. The use of commercial launchers is a key feature of President Obama’s new plan for NASA.

Image credit: SpaceX