SpaceX Successfully Launches Falcon 9 Rocket

leetrout writes "SpaceX has successfully launched a two-stage rocket, the Falcon 9, into Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 'Liftoff came after hours of delay, sparked initially by launchpad telemetry problems, then by a sailboat that strayed into a restricted area of the launch range. The day's first countdown was aborted at virtually the last second, due to a problem with the engine parameters, but the launch software was adjusted and a second countdown went all the way to the end.'" Update: 06/04 20:16 GMT by S : Reader mrcaseyj points out Spaceflight Now's coverage, which includes a number of pictures from the launch.

Does the last Atlantis pilot read /. ?

[nullchar]

The Associated Press quoted the pilot of the shuttle Atlantis' last scheduled flight, Dominic Antonelli, as saying he was impressed by the Falcon 9 and would gladly climb aboard if and when the time comes.

"Yes, absolutely. But I'm not that picky. I think I'd probably climb on just about anything," he said last month.

I figure we slashdotters would climb on just about anything too...

Re:Cool

[hardburn]

I don't want to hear anymore about Obama and his socialist plan to move space launching into the hands of private enterprise.

Re:Cool

[Jeng]

[ ] you know what "sarcasm" means
[x] you don't

Re:Cool

[jollyreaper]

I don't want to hear anymore about Obama and his socialist plan to move space launching into the hands of private enterprise.

I heard he wants to build a moonbase! You know who else wanted a moonbase? HITLER! They called it National Socialism for a reason! That's why Hitler and Stalin were so so gay for each other. That whole WWII thing, just an act to make us think they weren't in cahoots.

Re:Very exciting

[Speare]

I'm making a note here -- huge success!

... Even though you broke my heart, And killed me. And tore me to pieces. And threw every piece into a fire. As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!

Giant wasp from outer space?

[Anonymous Coward]

I laughed at the feeble attempts of the giant alien wasp to stop the launch [cnn.com] at T -5 or so. Was that you, K'breel, or one of your minions?

Re:Cool

[Chris Burke]

[ ] You got the joke.
[x] Whoosh!

Re:Cool

[eln]

That's why Hitler and Stalin were so so gay for each other.

I thought it was their mutual love of mustaches.

Indeed. In fact, the real reason Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 was because he could no longer contain his jealousy over Stalin's thick luxurious mustache which was so much nicer than his own. If only Rogaine had been available millions of lives could have been saved.

Re:Cool

[clarkkent09]

That's only because he knows that private enterprise will be more efficient in eventually allowing humans to travel to his real birthplace!

Re:Cool

[St.Creed]

They called it National Socialism for a reason!

Probably for similar reasons why North Korea calls itself the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea".

I knew it! Damn democrats!

Re:Cool

[the_other_chewey]

they should be capable of launching crewed missions a few years into the future.

Woah, time travel too? I had no idea!
Can they get them back to the present?

Obviously

[SnarfQuest]

This just proves how far CGI has gotten. They've been able to shut down the California sound stage.

Re:Cool

[ColdWetDog]

But. But.If it's a dummy capsule then why can't we ...

Oh nevermind, we'd never get enough politicians in the thing to make it worthwhile.

Re:Cool

[Chris Burke]

But. But.If it's a dummy capsule then why can't we ...

Hehe

Oh nevermind, we'd never get enough politicians in the thing to make it worthwhile.

You might call 7 politicians launched into space not worthwhile, but I call it a start. ;)