SpaceX and Nasa successfully launched two astronauts into orbit, marking the first time since 2011 that humans had blasted off from the US soil.
The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket with astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley aboard blasted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, for the 19-hour voyage to the orbiting International Space Station.
The mission also marks the first launch of a rocket owned by SpaceX, the commercial space company founded by Elon Musk.
"This is a dream come true for me and everyone at SpaceX," he added.
US President Donald Trump later announced that the "SpaceX Dragon Capsule (had) successfully reached low Earth orbit, and (the) astronauts are safe and sound".
Wave of bomb threats afflict European flights for third time this week
Jay Rockefeller, heir to famed dynasty and former US Senator, dies at 89
At least two children killed in bus crash in eastern France, authorities say
Vance repudiates Iran war after US electoral defeat
Malaysia ex-PM Najib Razak set for house arrest after party pays fine to leave jail
