Video: SpaceX capsule blasts off on resupply mission to International Space Station The unmanned, privately owned Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule blasted off from Cape Canaveral on Sunday on a mission to restore a US supply line to the International Space Station following the retirement of Nasa's space shuttle. Powered by nine oxygen and kerosene-burning engines, the 157-foot (48-metre) rocket, built by Space Exploration Technologies, lifted off from its seaside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8.35pm local time (1.35am BST). The capsule is scheduled to reach the $100 billion (£62 billion) space station - a project of 15 nations - on Wednesday. The Dragon cargo capsule carries about 400kg of food, clothing, science experiments and supplies for the station. The gear includes a freezer to transport medical samples and a rare treat for the station crew - chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream.