A SpaceX Falcon rocket blasted off on Sunday from a Florida launch pad once used to send NASA astronauts to the moon, a step forward for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his company&#39;s goal of ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station.

The 229-foot tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 soared off a seaside launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center at 9.39 am&nbsp;ET (1439 GMT) carrying a Dragon cargo ship bound for the station.

Nine minutes after blastoff, the main section of the rocket flew back to a landing pad at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the eighth successful touchdown for Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

&quot;Baby came back,&quot; Musk wrote on Twitter, celebrating the re-landing, which came a day after SpaceX decided to delay the mission 13 seconds before launch due to concerns about the steering system in the rocket`s upper stage, the company said.

Sunday&#39;s launch was the first for SpaceX from Launch Complex 39A, originally built for the 1960s-era Apollo moon program and later repurposed for the space shuttles.

The pad was last used for the final space shuttle launch in 2011. In 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease to use pad and has spent millions remodeling it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The launch was also SpaceX&#39;s first from Florida since an accident in September heavily damaged what had been the company&#39;s prime site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, located just south of the NASA spaceport.&nbsp;

Last month, SpaceX resumed flying its Falcon 9 rockets using a second launch pad in California, where the first stage of the rocket also nailed its re-landing.&nbsp;

The company plans to reuse the rockets, slashing costs and allowing it to offer reduced pricing.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which hired SpaceX to fly cargo to the station after the shuttle program ended, closely monitored the launch to learn more about the company`s operations before it clears the company to fly NASA astronauts on SpaceX rockets.

SpaceX and Boeing Co are scheduled to begin flying crew to the station by the end of 2018. A Government Accountability Office report last week said both companies face technical hurdles that likely will delay their programs.&nbsp;

SpaceX aims to have the Florida launchpad,&nbsp;damaged in last year&#39;s explosion, up and running by this summer.

(Reuters)

The 229-foot tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 soared off a seaside launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center at 9.39 am?ET

A SpaceX Falcon rocket blasted off on Sunday from a Florida launch pad once used to send NASA astronauts to the moon, a step forward for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his company's goal of ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station. The 229-foot tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 soared off a seaside launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center at 9.39 am ET (1439 GMT) carrying a Dragon cargo ship bound for the station. Nine minutes after blastoff, the main section of the rocket flew back to a landing pad at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the eighth successful touchdown for Space Exploration Technologies Corp. "Baby came back," Musk wrote on Twitter, celebrating the re-landing, which came a day after SpaceX decided to delay the mission 13 seconds before launch due to concerns about the steering system in the rocket`s upper stage, the company said. Sunday's launch was the first for SpaceX from Launch Complex 39A, originally built for the 1960s-era Apollo moon program and later repurposed for the space shuttles. The pad was last used for the final space shuttle launch in 2011. In 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease to use pad and has spent millions remodeling it. The launch was also SpaceX's first from Florida since an accident in September heavily damaged what had been the company's prime site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, located just south of the NASA spaceport. Last month, SpaceX resumed flying its Falcon 9 rockets using a second launch pad in California, where the first stage of the rocket also nailed its re-landing. The company plans to reuse the rockets, slashing costs and allowing it to offer reduced pricing. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which hired SpaceX to fly cargo to the station after the shuttle program ended, closely monitored the launch to learn more about the company`s operations before it clears the company to fly NASA astronauts on SpaceX rockets. SpaceX and Boeing Co are scheduled to begin flying crew to the station by the end of 2018. A Government Accountability Office report last week said both companies face technical hurdles that likely will delay their programs. SpaceX aims to have the Florida launchpad, damaged in last year's explosion, up and running by this summer. (Reuters)

SpaceX launches rocket from historic NASA pad in Florida

SpaceX blasted off its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, marking its first return to flight since a costly and complicated launchpad explosion in September.

&quot;Liftoff of the Falcon 9,&quot; a SpaceX commentator said as the tall white rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54 am (1754 GMT), carrying a payload of 10 satellites for Iridium, a mobile and data communications company.

The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium&#39;s global communications network.

The $3 billion project aims to send 81 satellites to low-Earth orbit in coming months.

Following launch, SpaceX landed the tall portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, on a platform in the Pacific Ocean.

The platform, or droneship, was labeled &quot;Just Read the Instructions.&quot;

Cheers erupted at SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, as a live video showed the rocket touch down successfully, and remain upright.

&quot;This is fantastic,&quot; a SpaceX spokeswoman said.

(AFP)

The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium's global communications network

SpaceX blasted off its Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, marking its first return to flight since a costly and complicated launchpad explosion in September. "Liftoff of the Falcon 9," a SpaceX commentator said as the tall white rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54 am (1754 GMT), carrying a payload of 10 satellites for Iridium, a mobile and data communications company. The satellites are the first in a series of launches planned to upgrade Iridium's global communications network. The $3 billion project aims to send 81 satellites to low-Earth orbit in coming months. Following launch, SpaceX landed the tall portion of the rocket, known as the first stage, on a platform in the Pacific Ocean. The platform, or droneship, was labeled "Just Read the Instructions." Cheers erupted at SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, as a live video showed the rocket touch down successfully, and remain upright. "This is fantastic," a SpaceX spokeswoman said. (AFP)

SpaceX launches, lands first Falcon 9 rocket since Sept blast

Musk has become one of the United States&#39; best-known innovators. He was a founder of payments company PayPal, electric carmaker Tesla Motors and SpaceX, maker and launcher of rockets and spacecraft.

The 45-year-old South Africa-born entrepreneur has channeled a dot-com fortune into a series of ambitious ventures.&nbsp;Besides being the head of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk is the chairman of SolarCity, a solar panel installer that has agreed recently to be bought by Tesla.&nbsp;He also operates his own foundation focusing on education, clean energy and child health.

This week Musk, as SpaceX chief, unveiled maybe the most ambitious plan anywhere on the planet:&nbsp;to establish a Mars colony by sending 100 humans at a time on massive spacecraft, possibly costing as low as $100,000 per person.

&nbsp;Evil AI&nbsp;

Late last year Musk took part in creating a nonprofit research company devoted to developing artificial intelligence, that will help people and not hurt them.

Musk found himself in the middle of a technology world controversy by holding firm that AI could turn on humanity and be its ruin instead of a salvation.&nbsp;Technology giants including Google, Apple and Microsoft have been investing in making machines smarter, contending the goal is to improve lives.

&quot;If we create some digital super-intelligence that exceeds us in every way by a lot, it is very important that it be benign,&quot; Musk said at a Code Conference in California in June.

A danger, he contended, was that highly advanced artificial intelligence would be left to its own devices, or in the hands of a few people, to the detriment of civilisation as a whole.&nbsp;&quot;I am concerned about certain directions that AI could take,&quot; Musk said.

He reasoned that even a benign situation with ultra-intelligent AI would put people so far beneath the machine they would be &quot;like a house cat.&quot;

&quot;I don&#39;t love the idea of being a house cat,&quot; Musk said, envisioning the creation of neural lacing that magnifies people&#39;s brain power by linking them directly to computing capabilities.

&nbsp;

Living in a game&nbsp;

 
Musk has also raised eyebrows with a theory that the world as it is known may be a computer simulation so real that people take it for life.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;ve had so many simulation discussions it&#39;s crazy,&quot; Musk said, while fielding a question on the topic at the Code Conference.

The argument for life as we know it being a simulation is strong, according to Musk.&nbsp;He maintained that &quot;the odds that we are in base reality is one in billions&quot;.

Musk lives in Los Angeles and holds US, Canadian and South African citizenship.

He moved to Canada in his late teens and then to the United States, earning bachelor&#39;s degrees in physics and business from the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating, Musk abandoned plans to pursue further studies at Stanford University and started Zip2, a company that made online publishing software for the media industry.

He banked his first millions before the age of 30 when he sold Zip2 to US computer maker Compaq for more than $300 million in 1999.&nbsp;Musk&#39;s next company, X.com, eventually merged with PayPal, the online payments firm bought by Internet auction giant eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.&nbsp;Forbes estimated Musk&#39;s current net worth at $11.7 billion

&nbsp;

Space, earth visions&nbsp;

 
In 2002, Musk launched SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp, where he serves as chief executive and chief technology officer, with plans to develop low-cost rockets.

Musk invested $100 million of his personal fortune in SpaceX.&nbsp;Closer to earth, Musk in 2004 launched Tesla Motors, with the aim of popularising electric vehicles. Tesla is also building a massive &quot;Gigafactory&quot; to crank out lithium-ion batteries in Nevada as part of a plan to produce more electric cars at lower price points.

&nbsp;

&#39;Hyperloop&#39; dreams&nbsp;

Musk openly released a design for a super-fast transport system dubbed &quot;Hyperloop&quot; which could carry passengers in low-pressure tubes at near-supersonic speeds.&nbsp;The project could connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in 35 minutes and could be a low-cost alternative to a high-speed rail network planned for the western US state.

Musk has said he has no plans to build the system but offered the &quot;open source design&quot; for others to pursue a venture. A couple of startups have taken up the challenge.&nbsp;Musk&#39;s called the system a cross between a &quot;Concorde, a rail gun, and an air hockey table&quot;.

Jon Favreau, director of &quot;Iron Man,&quot; calls Musk a modern-day &quot;Renaissance man&quot;.&nbsp;In an article for Time, Favreau said he and actor Robert Downey Jr modeled the main character in their movie,&nbsp;&quot;genius billionaire Tony Stark&quot;,&nbsp;after the Silicon Valley star.

Musk told Time that his goal was to be &quot;involved in things that are going to make a significant difference to the future of humanity&quot;.

(AFP)

Musk has said, 'If we create some digital super-intelligence that exceeds us in every way by a lot, it is very important that it be benign'

Musk has become one of the United States' best-known innovators. He was a founder of payments company PayPal, electric carmaker Tesla Motors and SpaceX, maker and launcher of rockets and spacecraft. The 45-year-old South Africa-born entrepreneur has channeled a dot-com fortune into a series of ambitious ventures. Besides being the head of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk is the chairman of SolarCity, a solar panel installer that has agreed recently to be bought by Tesla. He also operates his own foundation focusing on education, clean energy and child health. This week Musk, as SpaceX chief, unveiled maybe the most ambitious plan anywhere on the planet: to establish a Mars colony by sending 100 humans at a time on massive spacecraft, possibly costing as low as $100,000 per person. Evil AI Late last year Musk took part in creating a nonprofit research company devoted to developing artificial intelligence, that will help people and not hurt them. Musk found himself in the middle of a technology world controversy by holding firm that AI could turn on humanity and be its ruin instead of a salvation. Technology giants including Google, Apple and Microsoft have been investing in making machines smarter, contending the goal is to improve lives. "If we create some digital super-intelligence that exceeds us in every way by a lot, it is very important that it be benign," Musk said at a Code Conference in California in June. A danger, he contended, was that highly advanced artificial intelligence would be left to its own devices, or in the hands of a few people, to the detriment of civilisation as a whole. "I am concerned about certain directions that AI could take," Musk said. He reasoned that even a benign situation with ultra-intelligent AI would put people so far beneath the machine they would be "like a house cat." "I don't love the idea of being a house cat," Musk said, envisioning the creation of neural lacing that magnifies people's brain power by linking them directly to computing capabilities. Living in a game Musk has also raised eyebrows with a theory that the world as it is known may be a computer simulation so real that people take it for life. "I've had so many simulation discussions it's crazy," Musk said, while fielding a question on the topic at the Code Conference. The argument for life as we know it being a simulation is strong, according to Musk. He maintained that "the odds that we are in base reality is one in billions". Musk lives in Los Angeles and holds US, Canadian and South African citizenship. He moved to Canada in his late teens and then to the United States, earning bachelor's degrees in physics and business from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, Musk abandoned plans to pursue further studies at Stanford University and started Zip2, a company that made online publishing software for the media industry. He banked his first millions before the age of 30 when he sold Zip2 to US computer maker Compaq for more than $300 million in 1999. Musk's next company, X.com, eventually merged with PayPal, the online payments firm bought by Internet auction giant eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. Forbes estimated Musk's current net worth at $11.7 billion Space, earth visions In 2002, Musk launched SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp, where he serves as chief executive and chief technology officer, with plans to develop low-cost rockets. Musk invested $100 million of his personal fortune in SpaceX. Closer to earth, Musk in 2004 launched Tesla Motors, with the aim of popularising electric vehicles. Tesla is also building a massive "Gigafactory" to crank out lithium-ion batteries in Nevada as part of a plan to produce more electric cars at lower price points. 'Hyperloop' dreams Musk openly released a design for a super-fast transport system dubbed "Hyperloop" which could carry passengers in low-pressure tubes at near-supersonic speeds. The project could connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in 35 minutes and could be a low-cost alternative to a high-speed rail network planned for the western US state. Musk has said he has no plans to build the system but offered the "open source design" for others to pursue a venture. A couple of startups have taken up the challenge. Musk's called the system a cross between a "Concorde, a rail gun, and an air hockey table". Jon Favreau, director of "Iron Man," calls Musk a modern-day "Renaissance man". In an article for Time, Favreau said he and actor Robert Downey Jr modeled the main character in their movie, "genius billionaire Tony Stark", after the Silicon Valley star. Musk told Time that his goal was to be "involved in things that are going to make a significant difference to the future of humanity". (AFP)

Elon Musk is wary of humanity's future, AI

SpaceX&#39;s Falcon 9 rocket&nbsp;exploded at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, multiple media reports said. 
 
It remains unclear at the moment whether there have been casualties. But the intensity of the explosion rocked buildings &quot;several miles away&quot;, according to The Verge. 
 
Emergency services&nbsp;have however said there is no threat to the public. 
 
Although the cause of the blast remains unknown, NASA officials said it occurred during a static fire test of the rocket&#39;s engines. 
 
SpaceX, a company owned by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, intends to send people to Mars within the next two decades.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

The intensity of the blast shook buildings "several miles away"

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, multiple media reports said. It remains unclear at the moment whether there have been casualties. But the intensity of the explosion rocked buildings "several miles away", according to The Verge. Emergency services have however said there is no threat to the public. Although the cause of the blast remains unknown, NASA officials said it occurred during a static fire test of the rocket's engines. SpaceX, a company owned by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, intends to send people to Mars within the next two decades. (WION with inputs from agencies)

SpaceX rocket explosion rocks Kennedy Space Centre

Elon Musk&#39;s SpaceX spacecraft was successfully installed to the International Space Station today, a crucial step in enabling US commercial space taxis to ferry astronauts to the orbiting lab, NASA said. 
 
The SpaceX Dragon capsule was filled with nearly 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) of pressurised cargo such as food and crew supplies, including one of two metal docking rings with a diameter of 7.8 feet (2.4 metres). 
 
The ring will be attached to the station, letting commercial spaceships under development by SpaceX and Boeing Co ferry astronauts to the station.&nbsp;The metal docking ring will serve as a parking space for commercial spaceships under development by SpaceX and Boeing. The manned craft are scheduled to begin test flights next year. 
 
Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, tried last year to deliver a ring for the first time, but the equipment was destroyed during a launch accident.&nbsp;SpaceX&#39;s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo ship launched at 12:45 am EDT (0445 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 18. 
 
The final stage of today&#39;s installation occurred at 10:03 am EDT (1403 GMT).&nbsp;A second docking ring is due to be delivered in 2017, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, said. 
 
Owned and operated by Musk, the technology entrepreneur who founded Tesla Motors Inc, SpaceX is developing rockets that can be refurbished and re-used, potentially slashing launch costs. So far, it has successfully landed a Falcon on the ground once and on an ocean platform in three out of its last four attempts. 
 
(Reuters)

The ring will be attached to the station, letting commercial spaceships under development by SpaceX and Boeing Co ferry astronauts

Elon Musk's SpaceX spacecraft was successfully installed to the International Space Station today, a crucial step in enabling US commercial space taxis to ferry astronauts to the orbiting lab, NASA said. The SpaceX Dragon capsule was filled with nearly 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) of pressurised cargo such as food and crew supplies, including one of two metal docking rings with a diameter of 7.8 feet (2.4 metres). The ring will be attached to the station, letting commercial spaceships under development by SpaceX and Boeing Co ferry astronauts to the station. The metal docking ring will serve as a parking space for commercial spaceships under development by SpaceX and Boeing. The manned craft are scheduled to begin test flights next year. Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, tried last year to deliver a ring for the first time, but the equipment was destroyed during a launch accident. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo ship launched at 12:45 am EDT (0445 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 18. The final stage of today's installation occurred at 10:03 am EDT (1403 GMT). A second docking ring is due to be delivered in 2017, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, said. Owned and operated by Musk, the technology entrepreneur who founded Tesla Motors Inc, SpaceX is developing rockets that can be refurbished and re-used, potentially slashing launch costs. So far, it has successfully landed a Falcon on the ground once and on an ocean platform in three out of its last four attempts. (Reuters)

SpaceX successfully delivers docking ring to International Space Station

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