Private spacecraft company's Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch at 1:25 AM EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It will be carrying AsiaSat (Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Ltd) into high orbit.
SpaceX is founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, famous for his line of Tesla EV's. Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket launch system that Musk hopes will lower the costs of supplying the ISS ( International Space Station) and launching satellites. Eventually, Musk hopes to produce spacecraft capable of going to Mars and possibly begin colonization of the planet.
Although Falcon 9 launches have been testing reusability of the first stage, bringing them back for ocean splashdowns, this flight will NOT be a test of reusability. That will likely be happening in September of this year, when SpaceX launches the Dragon capsule on a resupply run to the ISS.
The next Dragon launch will probably feature another ocean splashdown. But after that, SpaceX will likely attempt to bring the Falcon 9 first stage back softly on dry land, or on a pad in the ocean. Company representatives have said they hope to accomplish this big milestone by the end of the year.
http://www.space.com/...
I'm no good at posting videos, so I'll just post the link. Besides, it's much better to watch nearly full screen
PS: the launch has already happened, so this is the vid of it. It's fascinating because there are various cameras. One is on the rocket and you get a good view of the rocket burner.
http://www.space.com/...