SpaceX rocket lifts off carrying supplies for ISS

  • (VIDEO STILL/NASA TV) SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Gregg Wagner, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from south Orlando - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Betty Hoffa, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Port St. John - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Barbera Evers, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Barefoot Bay - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Joshua Moseley, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Floridana Beach - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Joshua Moseley, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Floridana Beach - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Jerry Hume, Staff) Rocket launch as seen from Cocoa Beach Pier - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Jim Ruda, Viewer) A time-lapsed photo of the rocket launch as seen from Melbourne- Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Jessica Marante, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Titusville - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Phillip Deal, Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Sanford - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Johnny, Viewer) SpaceX rocket launch - Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/Jon E., Viewer) Rocket launch as seen from Indialantic - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (PHOTO/SpaceX, Twitter) The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad two hours before the launch time - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • (VIDEO STILL/NASA TV) All system remain go as the countdown continues for Falcon launch - Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.
  • SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station early Tuesday, May 22, 2012, marking the first time a private company sends its own rocket to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
By Natalie Tolomeo, Greg Pallone and Jerry Hume, Team Coverage
Last Updated: Sunday, October 07, 2012, 10:25 PM
CAPE CANAVERAL -- 

A Falcon 9 rocket is on its way to the International Space Station after lifting off from Cape Canaveral Sunday evening.

———————————————

  • Share your pictures with News 13: UPLOAD

———————————————

"Lift off, lift off of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launching Dragon to the International Space Station and returning cargo resupply missions to U.S. soil," the launch announcer said as the rocket took off.

About an hour before the scheduled launch, officials improved weather conditions to 80 percent.

The SpaceX rocket is carrying up approximately 1,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS in a capsule attached to the rocket.

This is the first of 12 contracted missions between SpaceX and NASA to resupply the ISS.

Not only will the mission bring cargo to the ISS, it is the first time it will bring back significant research and samples.

"When you have a launch vehicle that's in your country, it just makes it a lot easier because literally shipping and customs can kill you when you're trying to get overseas, and this really makes the process faster, and allows us to react to anomalies in real time," said ISS Director Sam Scimemi.

The cargo also includes vanilla-chocolate swirl ice cream for the crew of the ISS.

Since the retirement of the shuttle program over a year ago, NASA has had to rely on Russia to get astronauts in and out of space.

Because the rocket is headed straight to the space station, SpaceX only had one shot to launch at 8:35 p.m.

Earlier, rain and cloud concerns meant for a 60 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch.

NASA managers said the rocket will stay at the ISS for approximately three weeks, depending on the crew's needs.

Latest News: Brevard County