SpaceX crewed rocket lifts off in historic launch

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By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A manned SpaceX rocket lifted off Saturday afternoon sending two astronauts into space for the first time from the U.S. in almost a decade.

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After arriving to the launchpad in a gullwing Tesla, Veteran astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken ascended the 260-foot Falcon 9 rocket and were catapulted into space at 3:22 p.m.

Hurley and Behnken will fly 250 million miles to the International Space Station in the first launch of astronauts by a private company.

This was the second launch attempt this week.

Wednesday’s launch was halted at just under 17 minutes because of the threat of lightning.

Check back for more on this developing story.

SpaceX Falcon-9 Rocket And Crew Dragon Capsule Launches From Cape Canaveral Sending Astronauts To The International Space Station CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MAY 30: The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches into space with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (R) and Doug Hurley aboard the rocket from the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The inaugural flight is the first manned mission since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 to be launched into space from the United States. (Photo by Saul Martinez/Getty Images) (Saul Martinez/Getty Images)