Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have taken off on the historic first space flight of a commercial company crew using Nasa's iconic base.
It was Nasa's first human spaceflight launched from U.S. soil in nearly a decade.
The mission blasted off smoothly in a cloud of orange flames and smoke from Launch Pad 39A at Florida's Kennedy Space Centre.
The two astronauts are heading to the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth, in a SpaceX Falcon 9 capsule.
Nasa Mission control announced the launch: "America has launched a new era in human space flight."
In just two minutes 40 seconds the capsule was at an altitude of 80km and travelling at 6,600 kph.
President Donald Trump was at the launch.
As the rocket built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth, it ushered in a new era of commercial space travel.
“Let’s light this candle,” Mr Hurley said, using words used by Alan Shepard on America’s first human spaceflight in 1961.
It was the second attempt for lift-off after a late cancellation on Wednesday the mission came within 17 minutes of launching.
The launch comes as the US is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and violent protests against the deaths of African Americans killed in police encounters.
“Maybe there’s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright, shining moment of hope at what the future looks like, that the United States of America can do extraordinary things even in difficult times,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.
-
US astronauts Bob Behnken, right, and Doug Hurley walk out of the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, before their aborted space fligh on May 27, 2020. Getty Images -
Nasa's first manned mission since the end of the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 was called off 17 minutes before launch because of bad weather and rescheduled for May 30, 2020. AP Photo -
Astronaut Douglas Hurley is seen on a monitor in firing room four during suit-up at the Neil A Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the planned launch. AFP -
Liquid oxygen vents off the Falcon 9 rocket moments before the mission was aborted due to weather problems. AP -
Astronauts Doug Hurley, front, and Bob Behnken, sit in the Crew Dragon capsule after the launch was aborted. AP -
Doug Hurley, centre, and Bob Behnken confer with technicians after leaving the Crew Dragon capsule. AP -
Bob Behnken waves as he and fellow crew member Doug Hurley ride back from Pad 39-A after their mission was delayed by stormy weather. AP -
US President Donald Trump helps first lady Melania Trump with her seat while attending a SpaceX mission briefing at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral. Reuters -
President Donald Trump looks at a piece of equipment to sign during a tour of Nasa facilities before viewing the SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. From left, second lady Karen Pence, Vice President Mike Pence, Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Michael Hawes, vice president of Lockheed Martin and Orion Project Manager, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana. AP Photo -
Stephen Koerner, Director of the Flight Operations Directorate at Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre, left, and Pat Forrester, chief of the US space agency's astronaut office, right, monitor the launch countdown. AFP -
Nasa management are seen on a teleconference in firing room four following the attempted launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. EPA -
Spectators cross Highway 1 in Titusville, Florida as they leave their viewing spots shortly after the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 was scrubbed. AP Photo
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, veterans of two space shuttle flights, wore their angular, white-and-black spacesuits.
In a tweet Friday, Hurley said his first shuttle flight was scrubbed five times for weather and technical issues.
But on Saturday, it was a successful take off and cheers from Mission Control.
Nasa had earlier in the week urged spectators to stay home because of the pandemic but prime viewing spots at area parks and beaches were packed.
