NASA, SpaceX launch Dragon mission with 6,500 pounds of science and supplies to the space station – Spaceflight Now

Update May 15, 6:33 p.m. EDT (2233 UTC): SpaceX confirms successful separation of the Dragon spacecraft.

The third time was the charm as SpaceX successfully launched its Cargo Dragon spacecraft on Friday evening, loaded with 6,500 pounds of science and supplies for the International Space Station after two delays earlier in the week due to bad weather.

Liftoff of the resupply mission, atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, happened at 6:05 p.m. EDT (2205 UTC). It was SpaceX’s 34th mission for NASA, funded by the agency’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts.

A slow-moving weather front, bringing thick clouds and thunderstorms to central Florida, stymied launch attempts on Tuesday and Wednesday. The countdown on Wednesday reached T-28 seconds before the launch director called a hold due to the presence of lightning-triggering anvil clouds in the vicinity of the launch pad.

Launch was rescheduled for Friday so ground crews could reload ‘late load’ items with a short shelf life.