Launch of SpaceX's cargo-carrying Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket for a resupply mission to International Space Station has been a success after two weeks of delay. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 3:25 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 18. Initially, the plan to launch the resupply mission was planned in March, but due to some technical problems, engineers were forced to delay the launch. Finally, the orbiting lab has received almost 5,000 pounds of cargo intended for use by the crew of the ISS.

With this successful resupply mission, SpaceX has sent its third of 12 planned supply missions to the orbital outpost. Some 150 experiments have been spent for the crew at the ISS. The experiments include growing plants efficiently in space and how the immune system of human beings is affected in microgravity.

The planned experiments are based on important researches to gain insight into how humans acclimatize to conditions in space for long periods of time. NASA wants to develop technologies that will enable deep space explorations.

Musk is endeavoring to recover and reuse rockets to save launch costs. They have reported initial success with tests on reigniting the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage on descent.

The landing of Falcon 9 has been very exciting this time, as it used a novel technique to enable a smooth landing. Program managers are confident that the rocket will one day be able to make a smooth landing at spaceports and get ready to be serviced for the next launch.

The dragon will spend a month at the ISS and will bring back 3,500 pounds of scientific experiments, hardware, supplies and tools on earth. May 18 is the date fixed for its splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, west of Baja, California.