OTD in Space – June 4: Falcon 9 Rocket Reaches Orbit

On June 4, 2010, the first Falcon 9 rocket built by SpaceX blasted off from Cape Canaveral on its maiden voyage and reached orbit. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com]

Space Exploration Technologies, or Space X, was founded by billionaire Elon Musk, an internet entrepreneur who co-founded PayPal and leads Tesla Motors. The rocket almost didn't leave that day. It came close to the end of its 4-hour launch window because of an issue with the Flight Termination System. But it was able to successfully launch and officially began its $1.6 billion contract with NASA to deliver 20 tons of cargo to the ISS over 12 Dragon flights through 2016. The rocket carried a prototype Dragon spacecraft designed for cargo trips to the International Space Station. SpaceX began official NASA delivery flights with Dragon and Falcon 9 at the end of 2010.