A new era in the American space program is to begin today, as two NASA astronauts get set to launch aboard the privately-built Space-X Dragon capsule sitting atop the Space-X Falcon 9 rocket.
It will be the first launch from U-S soil since the end of the space shuttle program almost a decade ago.
Liftoff is set for 4:33 this afternoon, eastern time, with a final decision on weather factors being made about three hours earlier.
The two astronauts are to dock at the International Space Station tomorrow.
