In another milestone achievement, SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off last night at 8:28 p.m. ET, carrying the Cargo Dragon spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). This marked the sixth and final Dragon flight of the year 2023, with three of those launches being crewed missions and the other two serving as resupply missions.

Following its launch, Cargo Dragon is now en route to the ISS, expected to reach the outpost at 3:45 a.m. ET. Once docked, the crew onboard the space station will open the hatches and begin unloading supplies and conducting experiments. Over the course of the next month, the spacecraft will be filled with completed experiments and other excess equipment to be returned to Earth.

The flight witnessed the successful reuse of Falcon 9 Booster 1081, which completed its second mission. After separating from the second stage, the booster created a stunning visual display known as the "Falcon Nebula" in the sky. The interaction of the Merlin 1D and Merlin Vacuum engine plumes caused the gases to glow in the upper atmosphere. Moreover, the first stage of the Falcon 9 successfully landed back at LZ-1, generating sonic booms that could be heard around the Space Coast.

This mission marked the ninth in the current Phase 2 Commercial Resupply Services awarded to SpaceX, with six more Cargo Dragon flights already scheduled between 2024 and 2026.

SpaceX has solidified its position as the sole American launch provider capable of sending supplies to the ISS. With the retirement of Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket, the company will be launching its next Cygnus resupply vehicle on the Falcon 9 in the coming year. United Launch Alliance, on the other hand, is currently facing constraints, as its available Atlas V rockets are already assigned for launches ahead of its planned retirement. The company is expected to make the switch to the new Vulcan rocket for future missions, including the launch of the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser vehicle.

With the successful completion of this Dragon launch, SpaceX is now gearing up for two more launches this weekend—one from California and another from Florida. The company's non-stop pace showcases its commitment to advancing space exploration and its extensive launch capabilities.

As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space technology and secure its leadership in the industry, the successful completion of the 6th Dragon launch to the ISS serves as a testament to the company's prowess and innovation.