Article Posted on : - Feb 20, 2017

The Falcon 9 rocket lifts off. A SpaceX photo via Twitter

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP): NASA's historic moonshot pad is back in business.

A SpaceX Falcon rocket blasted off Sunday morning from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. It was visible for just seconds before ducking into clouds on its way to the International Space Station, with a load of supplies.

Astronauts flew to the moon from this very spot nearly a half-century ago. The pad was last used for NASA's final shuttle mission nearly six years ago.

This is SpaceX's first launch from Florida since a rocket explosion last summer. As an extra special treat, SpaceX landed the booster rocket back at Cape Canaveral following lift-off, for only the third time.

Cheers erupted inside SpaceX Mission Control. A minute or two later, the SpaceX Dragon supply ship successfully reached orbit, generating more applause.