SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft from Cape Canaveral early Monday morning. The spacecraft is carrying cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. It will return to Earth in about a month.
Credit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteVarious press members’ cameras mounted to capture the launch Credit:Joey RouletteCameras must be mounted in protective gear; NASA’s is hard-core Credit:Joey RouletteCamera in protective box Credit:Joey RouletteThe SpaceX facility at NASA Credit:Joey RouletteMedia members on the press bus Credit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteMedia members on the press bus Credit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteCredit:Joey RouletteJoel Montalbano and Hans Koenigsmann give brief answers to press after the post-launch press conference at 2am, Monday morning. An aide from SpaceX (pictured right) appeared immediately after the conference to usher Koenigsmann out. Following press conferences like this one, SpaceX executives don’t tend to hang around for questions like NASA representatives do. In fact, Hans and his aide actually ran through the mob of reporters and out the door at Saturday’s prelaunch news briefing. Credit:Joey RouletteCapt. Laura Godoy, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron Credit:Joey RouletteMiddle four, from left to right: Joel Montalbano, ISS deputy program manager for Utilization, NASA’s Johnson Space Center; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of Flight Reliability, SpaceX; Julie Robinson, chief ISS program scientist, NASA’s Johnson Space Center; Capt. Laura Godoy, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron Credit:Joey RouletteJoel Montalbano, ISS deputy program manager for Utilization, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, gives a prelaunch status briefing at 2:29pm. Heightened press evacuation measures and limited media sites “due to Dragon Abort scenario” said Montalbano. NASA’s spontaneous decision to close down the Vehicle Assembly Building to the media during the launch was a contentious issue for reporters. When asked about press site closure and alleged safety precautions, Montalbano said it was in response to a possible “Dragon Abort Scenario,” but refused to comment on what the Dragon Abort Scenario means. Credit:Joey Roulette
