MIAMI: SpaceX on Monday blasted off its unmanned Dragon cargo ship toward the Inter­national Space Station, carrying a host of science experiments and the most powerful computer ever sent into orbit.

“Three, two, one, and liftoff,” a SpaceX commentator said as the white Falcon nine rocket climbed into the blue sky over Cape Canaveral, Florida at 12:31pm.

Three minutes after launch, the rocket separated as planned, with the long, tall portion — known as the first stage — arcing back toward Earth and the second stage continuing to propel the cargo ship to space.

The first stage of the rocket then powered its thrusters and operated its grid fins to set itself down on solid ground at Cape Canaveral for a controlled, upright landing at Landing Zone 1. Clouds of brown dust encircled the rocket as it touched down.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2017