NASA chief to see history-making SpaceX capsule

Elon Musk just announced on twitter that the SpaceX team has gotten two of the Dragon Capsule's thrusters working, enough to get the capsule back under active control. Pods 1 and 4 now online and thrusters engaged. Dragon transitioned from free drift to active control. Yes!!

SpaceX, the Hawthorne-based rocket venture, has successfully reached orbit with its Dragon spacecraft, the company said. The company's massive Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Caneveral, Fla. on Wednesday at 7:43 a.m. Approximatley 10 minutes later, the Apollo-like Dragon space capsule appeared to reach low Earth orbit.

After thruster malfunctions following launch this morning, the Dragon Capsule has been forced to cancel tomorrow's planned rendezvous with the ISS. That's according to several people on twitter, including Dan Leone from Space News, and SpaceflightNow, who were listening to the feed from mission control:

A wheel of LeBrouere carried by the Dragon spacecraft was a toast to a Monty Python skit.In the historic launch of its Dragon space capsule Wednesday, Hawthorne-based rocket venture SpaceX didn't carry astronauts or cargo into orbit.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft just set off on its journey to the International Space Station, launching from Cape Canaveral. It is carrying 1,268 pounds of cargo, including food, clothing, and care packages for ISS astronauts.

The Dragon capsule is recovered after splashing down in the Pacific.

Hawthorne-based SpaceX has received $25 million from NASA since successfully launching its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon space capsule last month.Hawthorne-based rocket venture Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

The Dragon space capsule launched by US company SpaceX was within 350 meters (yards) of the International Space Station early Friday on a test maneuver ahead of a high-stakes berthing bid."The Dragon spacecraft is inside 350 meters from the International Space Station and approaching the 250 meter point for demonstration maneuvers," NASA said in a statement."Dragon will demonstrate retreat and hold maneuvers before moving to within 220 meters of the station."