Live coverage: European mini-shuttle back on Earth

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into orbit Monday from Cape Canaveral with nearly three tons of hardware and supplies for the International Space Station.

The first upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, known as the ‘Block 5’, takes flight from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on 11 May 2018.

With three space station fliers heading home Sunday after a 168-day mission, three fresh crew members made final preparations for launch three days later to boost the lab’s crew back to six in a rapid-fire rotation that will prevent any major interruption of research activity.