Launch Pictures: SpaceX's Dragon Capsule Roars to Space Station

Liftoff for SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket

NASA TV

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into the predawn sky above Florida carrying the unmanned Dragon capsule on the first-ever commercial flight to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Second Stage Engine

SpaceX/NASA

This view shows a bright red second stage engine on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, as the booster launches the unmanned Dragon capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012.

SpaceX Launches Falcon 9/Dragon to ISS

NASA TV

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into the predawn sky above Florida carrying the unmanned Dragon capsule on the first-ever commercial flight to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Falcon 9 & Dragon Launch Crowd

SpaceX

Launch spectators cheer on the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft shortly after liftoff on May 22, 2012.

Falcon 9 Rocket Launches Dragon Capsule

SpaceX

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches the unmanned Dragon capsule into orbit on May 22, 2012.

SpaceX Launches Falcon 9/Dragon to ISS

NASA/Alan Ault

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars into space from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 3:44 a.m. EDT on May 22, 2012, carrying the Dragon capsule to orbit.

SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon Launch Trajectory to ISS

SpaceX

This still from a SpaceX webcast shows the planned trajectory of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first Dragon capsule to the International Space Station on May 22, 2012.

Falcon 9 Rocket & Dragon Spacecraft Launch

NASA TV

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 22, 2012.

Bolden Addresses Press Following SpaceX's Dragon Launch

NASA

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden takes questions from the media at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful SpaceX demonstration flight launch to the International Space Station

SpaceX Launch Controllers React to Falcon 9 & Dragon Liftoff

SpaceX/NASA

SpaceX launch controllers in Cape Canaveral, Fla. react to the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragonc apsule into orbit.

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Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.