The first privately-run resupply mission has blasted off for the International Space Station (ISS).
Today's Space X Falcon 9 launch followed a successful test mission during May
Space X, founded by PayPal billionaire Elon Musk, is one of two companies in a $1.6 billion NASA programme trialling private enterprise alternatives to the now-retired Space Shuttle.
ABOVE: Space X's Falcon 9 rocket seven minutes before its launch at 1.35pm NZ time this afternoon from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will dock with the International Space Station Thursday NZ time.
The Falcon 9 rocket carried the Dragon capsule into orbit, along with its cargo of 455kg of supplies for the ISS.
The Dragon capsule can be reconfigured to transport six astronauts to and from the Space Station.