SpaceX launches supplies to space station from historic launchpad, one day after scrubbing blast-off

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off on a supply mission to the International Space Station from historic launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:37pm, 20 Feb 2017Updated: 9:38pm, 20 Feb 2017

SpaceX launched almost 2.5 tonnes of supplies to the International Space Station on Sunday morning after scrubbing its Saturday attempt because of a potential issue with its Falcon 9 rocket.

The rocket lifted off at 9.39am EST from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was the space company’s first launch from Launch Complex 39A, the historic pad where the Apollo and space shuttle missions launched.

This was the first commercial launch from the pad — the last mission to lift off from 39A was the final space shuttle launch in 2011.

About eight minutes after liftoff, the first-stage rocket booster landed back on land at the company’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

“Baby came back,” SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeted, followed by a snapshot of the return landing.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket disappears into clouds after it lifted off on a supply mission to the International Space Station from historic launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centrr in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

The Dragon spacecraft, which is carrying the supplies, deployed about 10 minutes after launch. It is set to arrive at the space station early Wednesday morning.