On its second attempt (reboot? - Ed) the SpaceX-built Falcon 9 rocket launched two US astronauts into space. It the first time Americans have launched from US soil since the final Shuttle flight of 2011. This is a huge milestone for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program that was initiated by President Obama in 2010. The body has previously awarded contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to fly six manned trips to the International Space Station.
The Dragon 2 capsule - sans Tux logo, sadly.
CREDIT: NASA
The first planned launch on 27 May was postponed because of bad weather, but on 30 May the Falcon 9 rocket successfully took off from Cape Canaveral and the Dragon 2 capsule docked successfully with the ISS.