Musk's SpaceX launches Falcon rocket with Dragon spacecraft

Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. launched its 17th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station for longtime customer NASA early Saturday.

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon space capsule rumbled aloft at about 2:48 a.m. local time from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon will deliver almost 5,500 pounds of science, supplies and hardware, according to NASA, and is slated to attach to the station on Monday. SpaceX will attempt to recover Falcon 9’s first stage on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX set a company record last year with 21 launches for customers. Much of the