Space-X launches their Falcon 9 rocket to resupply the International Space Station. After an attached anvil cloud rule violation on the April 13, SpaceX CRS 6 mission launches the following day. Weather predictions were dire for Tuesday, then unexpectedly cleared, allowing for a successful launch attempt. At 4:10 p.m. the Falcon 9 rocket had a successful liftoff from launch complex 40. The Dragon capsule will rendezvous with the International Space Station to deliver supplies and scientific experiments. SpaceX made a second attempt to land the first stage on their floating barge in the Atlantic. The rocket landed too hard resulting in a crash.

America's next step to manned spaceflight begins now. The launch of Orion will take American astronauts beyond low Earth orbit to asteroids and to Mars. EFT-1 was an unmanned mission to test Orion's re-entry head shields, a critical function to crew safety and mission success. Only 4 hours after liftoff, the Orion capsule roared back to earth in a massive fireball. The temperatures on the surface of the spacecraft heated to over 4000 degrees fahrenheit. That it even hotter than lava. Still the new heat shield, largest ever build, survived the intense heat and splashed down safely in the pacific ocean. To see more of this launch, check out the Technology page right here!