The US company SpaceX this morning became the first commercial outfit to send its own spacecraft toward the International Station with the launch of the cargo-bearing Dragon capsule.

"Three, two, one and launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as NASA turns to the private sector to resupply the International Space Station," said NASA commentator George Diller as the spacecraft blasted off at 9:44 am (Malta time).

The Space X capsule will separate from the rocket later today and is due to berth alongside the space station in two day's time.

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