Watch conditions at Kennedy Space Center during Tropical Storm Isaias

On track for launch from Cape Canaveral in July, NASA’s Perseverance rover has been secured to its rocket-powered descent stage and back shell, part of the protective shield that will safeguard the robot when it arrives at Mars next year.

The Falcon 9 rocket that will launch a Dragon capsule packed with cargo destined for the International Space Station was raised into position at launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rumbled into the sky Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, flexing the rocket’s muscles and lofting a massive Intelsat satellite to orbit supporting wireless communications, television broadcasting and trans-Atlantic data relays.