SpaceX Falcon 9 now vertical on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral

While the Obama commercial space policy is the news, SpaceX continues to move forward toward the initial launch of its Falcon 9 rocket within the next 1 to 3 months. The latest milestone was getting the rocket vertical on the pad.

The full flight-ready Falcon 9 launch vehicle with Dragon qualification spacecraft raised to vertical on the launch pad at SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Credit: SpaceX. — The full flight-ready Falcon 9 launch vehicle with Dragon qualification spacecraft raised to vertical on the launch pad February 20 at SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Credit: SpaceX.

Falcon 9 flight hardware undergoing final integration earlier this month in the hangar at SpaceXs Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida. Credit: SpaceX. — Falcon 9 flight hardware undergoing final integration earlier this month in the hangar at SpaceX's Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida. Credit: SpaceX.

In December 2008, NASA announced the selection of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon Spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) when the Space Shuttle retires in 2010. The Falcon 9 is designed to carry 23,000 pounds to Low Earth Orbit.

The Dragon Spacecraft, initially for cargo only, is later planned to carry astronauts as depicted in this SpaceX video.

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