Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 — 03:44 EDT (07:44 UTC)

SpaceX, headquartered out of Hawthorne, California, launched the Falcon 9 on May 22, 2012. From the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Falcon 9 is on a mission to the International Space Station. This is a new era of commercial spaceflight, as NASA moves forward into space history.

In 2002, SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk. Musk also co-founded PayPal and Tesla Motors.

The contract that SpaceX has with NASA will have a minimum value of $1.6 billion and a maximum value of $3.1 billion. The company will center its attention around the transport of cargo and astronauts to the ISS, with a goal of sending humans to Mars in the future.

SpaceX also has contracts with private sector companies, non-American government agencies and the American military. There is talk of a new commercial launch pad. The launch pad could be built in one of five states — Alaska, California, Florida, Texas, or Virginia. Good luck to all.