Space taxi reaches orbit in first flight test

A private company has launched a new rocket that may carry NASA astronauts to orbit after the space shuttle's retirement.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Friday at 1845 GMT (1445 EDT), reaching orbit 9 minutes later.

The rocket lofted an uncrewed mockup of SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which is designed to one day carry both crew and cargo to orbit. "This has been a good day for SpaceX and a promising development for the US human space flight programme," said Robyn Ringuette of SpaceX in a webcast of the launch.

In a teleconference with the media on Thursday, SpaceX's CEO, Paypal co-founder Elon Musk, said he would consider the flight 100 per cent successful if it reached orbit. "Even if we prove out just that the first stage functions correctly, I'd still say that's a good day for a test," he said. "It's a great day if both stages work correctly."

SpaceX hopes to win a NASA contract to launch astronauts to the International Space Station using the Falcon 9. US government space shuttles, which currently make these trips, are scheduled to retire for safety reasons at the end of 2010.