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SpaceX successfully launches rocket, lands it on barge

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time since June, when a rocket exploded shortly after takeoff, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon Capsule launched from Cape Canaveral Friday with cargo destined for the International Space Station.

Friday’s weather conditions were extremely favorable for the Falcon 9 rocket launch, which happened at 4:43 p.m.

The Falcon 9 rocket, along with the Dragon Capsule, was flawless as it shot up to orbit and 15 minutes later after the two separated, the rocket made its journey back to Earth.

The rocket successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

“That’s an amazing achievement. It really is. The physics behind that is just overwhelming,” said Lee Ferrell, who traveled from North Carolina to see the launch in person.

The Dragon Capsule will carry more than 4,300 pounds of cargo and 250 NASA experiments to the ISS, including a Bigelow expandable activity module, or BEAM.

The futuristic pop-up pod will be the first inflatable room ever built for astronauts.

Once inflated, the BEAM, designed by Bigelow Aerospace, will swell to the size of a small bedroom.

It will also be a test bed for orbiting rental property that the North Las Vegas company hopes to launch in four years.

The technology is expected to be used in habitats on the moon and Mars.

The Dragon Capsule also has the capability to return cargo to earth, including critical samples from scientific experiments, failed hardware from the ISS and refuse.

SpaceX landed a rocket on land successfully in December, but there were four prior failed attempts.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that in order to open access to space, you must have full and rapid reusability.

“We think it’ll be a paying customer, but we have to have discussions on it,” said Musk.

The Falcon 9 rocket could be the first to re-launch into space for an orbital mission by May or June.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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