SpaceX rocket makes history with successful take-off

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen in this false colour infrared exposure as it is launched on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with Nasa astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA

US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he arrives to watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. Reuters

SpaceX chief executive and owner Elon Musk celebrates after the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft on Nasa's SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters

President Donald Trump arrives to speak after viewing the SpaceX flight to the International Space Station, at Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP Photo

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off. AFP

Former Nasa astronaut Garrett Reisman holds the sign before the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reuters

Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken head for the International Space Station. AFP

President Donald Trump acknowledges SpaceX founder Elon Musk, right, after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AFP

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's second stage separates from the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa

Nasa astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Nasa

People view the launch from a beach in Florida. Reuters

A split image of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and astronauts Bob Behnken, rear, and Doug Hurley are strapped into it. Nasa

Spectators at Shiloh's Steak & Seafood restaurant in Titusville, Fla. watching the launch of the SpaceX rocket. AP

The launch makes history and was the first time astronauts have taken off from US soil in a decade. Reuters

The crew access arm is retracted about 30 minutes before the launch time. Nasa

Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken walk out of the Neil A Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. AP

Norm Knight, deputy director of Flight Operations at Nasa's Johnson Space Center, watches the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on the Demo-2 mission with Nasa astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken onboard, in firing room four of the Launch Control Centre at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA

In this image released by Nasa, astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are displayed on a monitor as they sit inside the Dragon crew capsule during the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the Launch Control Centre at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. AP

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have taken off on the historic first space flight of a commercial company crew using Nasa's iconic base.
It was Nasa's first human spaceflight launched from U.S. soil in nearly a decade.

The mission blasted off smoothly in a cloud of orange flames and smoke from Launch Pad 39A at Florida's Kennedy Space Centre.
The two astronauts are heading to the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth, in a SpaceX Falcon 9 capsule.

Nasa Mission control announced the launch: "America has launched a new era in human space flight."

In just two minutes 40 seconds the capsule was at an altitude of 80km and travelling at 6,600 kph.

President Donald Trump was at the launch.

As the rocket built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth, it ushered in a new era of commercial space travel.

“Let’s light this candle,” Mr Hurley said, using words used by Alan Shepard on America’s first human spaceflight in 1961.

It was the second attempt for lift-off after a late cancellation on Wednesday the mission came within 17 minutes of launching.
The launch comes as the US is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and violent protests against the deaths of African Americans killed in police encounters.

“Maybe there’s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright, shining moment of hope at what the future looks like, that the United States of America can do extraordinary things even in difficult times,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, veterans of two space shuttle flights, wore their angular, white-and-black spacesuits.

In a tweet Friday, Hurley said his first shuttle flight was scrubbed five times for weather and technical issues.
But on Saturday, it was a successful take off and cheers from Mission Control.

Nasa had earlier in the week urged spectators to stay home because of the pandemic but prime viewing spots at area parks and beaches were packed.