Home / Photos / SpaceX Dragon Launches to ISS Photos SpaceX Dragon Launches to ISS By May 23, 2012 Saturday’s launch attempt proved a successful one for the SpaceX Dragon.The successful launch took place at 3:44 a.m., a few days after a faulty engine valve forced engineers to abort a launch attempt on Saturday. The Dragon will now undergo a series of tests and demonstrations before attempting to dock with the ISS. The Falcon 9 rocket sits between the protective lightning masts at Cape Canaveral. Umbilical lines connect to the Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 rocket is placed into a vertical position in preparation for the launch. The Falcon 9 rocket is ferried to the launch pad. The Falcon 9 rocket prepares for its third launch. The Falcon 9 rocket rolls out of the processing facility at Cape Canaveral. Engineers work to connect the Dragon spacecraft to the Falcon 9 rocket. A nose cone sits ready to be installed on a Dragon capsule. Technicians stock cargo in the Dragon capsule in preparation for the launch. Technicians stock cargo in the Dragon capsule in preparation for the launch. NASA astronaut Megan McArthur performs a crew equipment interface test with the Dragon capsule. Technicians work to unite the Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for the launch. The Falcon 9 rocket sits in the processing facility where technicians unite it with the Dragon capsule. In preparation for the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket fires all 9 engines for 2 seconds as part of a day-long simulation of launch day. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft sits atop the Falcon 9 rocket at the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX engineers at the company’s Cape Canaveral Launch Control during a full countdown simulation. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket stands at the company’s Cape Canaveral launch pad. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket stands at the company’s Cape Canaveral launch pad. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft rests horizontally in the company’s hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft is rolled out to the company’s launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Dragon spacecraft sits in the hangar at Cape Canaveral. The capsule rests on top of the trunk. Large square fairings on the side of the trunk cover the solar arrays. View looking at the nosecone of the Dragon spacecraft & Falcon 9 rocket as they roll to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral Florida on April 29, 2012. NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and others perform a crew equipment interface test on the Dragon spacecraft on March 28, 2012, in SpaceX’s hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and others perform a crew equipment interface test on the Dragon spacecraft on March 28, 2012, in SpaceX’s hangar in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Dragon spacecraft undergoes final preparations at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The Dragon spacecraft in the hangar at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during processing. Learn more about the upcoming SpaceX Dragon launch attempt here. More From Photos A Fond Memory: Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023 Gallery: The Evolution of Van's Aircraft Gallery: Tails on Display at Oshkosh Gallery: Wednesday at Oshkosh Photos: <i>FLYING</i> Honors Award Winners at Adventure Party First Look: Supernal's Air Taxi Passenger Cabin