[Satellite TODAY 06-04-10] SpaceX launched its Falcon-9 rocket and achieved Earth orbit, marking a successful inaugural performance for the highly anticipated medium-lift launch vehicle.
    The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral, Fla., launch facility at about 2:40 p.m. EST carrying the Dragon vehicle qualification unit.
SpaceX will perform two more Falcon 9 flights carrying the Dragon spacecraft under NASA‘s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract to demonstrate delivery of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) as well as returning cargo to Earth. Following those flights, SpaceX will begin the NASA Commercial Resupply Services contract, conducting a minimum of 12 cargo flights by 2015 with a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kilograms to be carried to the ISS.
    Falcon 9 also will be used for commercial launch purposes. In March, SpaceX received its most recent commercial contract to launch a Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as early as 2012.
   Spacecom and Israel Aerospace Industries signed a contract in January to launch a communication satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as early as December 2012. Spacecom will use the satellite to provide broadcasting and communications services to operators and broadcasters. Falcon 9’s first scheduled commercial launch will be for MDA Corp. in 2011.