SpaceX launches first commercial spaceflight to the ISS

Holding out hopes for that package holiday to the Moon? That’s still a little way off, but commercial space travel is now truly on – and just above – the horizon, now that SpaceX has made the first commercial launch to the International Space Station.

Jetting off early today – following several false starts – the launch marks  the beginning of the era of private spaceflight. SpaceX founder Elon Musk isn't out of the woods yet, though – although the Falcon 9 rocket has launched successfully, its payload – the Dragon spaceship – needs to undergo practical tests in space before docking with the ISS.

With a $1.6 billion contract from NASA riding on the results, there's plenty of incentive for the pioneers of commercial spaceflight – it won't be too long before we're all jetting off to LV-223 aboard a Weyland Corporation spaceship