A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 1, 2024, sending a cargo spacecraft toward the International Space Station. The launch occurred at 10:02 a.m., with the rocket’s first stage landing at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Residents along the Space Coast reported seeing the rocket’s plume over the Atlantic Ocean and the Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has conducted over 100 launches from the area since 2010, according to the company’s public records. The mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract, carried 5,500 pounds of supplies and scientific equipment. The rocket’s second stage continued to orbit while the first stage returned to Earth. Local officials said the launch was routine, with no delays reported. Weather conditions were clear, allowing visibility of the rocket’s ascent. The next scheduled launch is set for June 12 from the same site. SpaceX employees and contractors working the mission were seen preparing the launchpad the day before. The company did not immediately comment on the flight’s success.