Listening to the pre-launch audio is amazing. T-9 minutes right now. This is so badass!

A private company is launching real capsules into space now. SpaceX definitely represents the dawn of a new era of space development.

Edit: Launched!

I go to Florida Tech. I was watching the webcast of the launch up until just after it launched. Then I ran outside and caught it just as it was getting over the trees. Watched it until it was just out of view.

I love my university.

Launch occurred at 15:43 GMT (10:43 AM EST/7:43 AM PST). So far so good.

For up-to-the-minute status updates and a live video feed, see http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/status.html

The Dragon capsule's deorbit burn completed and it's headed back down to Earth.

[EDIT] and splashdown!

Higher definition video from NASA for those who missed the webcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj1qwDxw9nk

I missed the abort section of the first launch window. Did anybody find out why they had to initially abort?

The actual launch was flawless, however. Only 9 minutes to orbit - incredible that it was done on such a small budget compared to your average government mission.

There was a false telemetry reading.

Tobias Buckell's blog post: http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2010/12/08/dragon-spacecraftfal...

Wow. Seeing something man-made soar above the earth like that is something else. Being a civilian enterprise like SpaceX just makes it all the cooler.

Gah, I missed watching it. Kicking myself now.

It worked! Dragon separated from 2nd stage....