The first demonstration flight of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, Dec. 8. SpaceX launch controllers report the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage is performing as planned to place the Dragon 9 capsule into low Earth orbit. This is the first of three Falcon 9 test launches.