Dawn Rocket Launch

Space X Falcon 9 Heads to Space Station

Viewing conditions were excellent near dawn on October 13th for the 6:33 am EDT launch of Falcon 9 CRS-35 to resupply the International Space Station. About 5 minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral at 6:38 am the rocket first appeared as a tiny fuzzy light rising above trees and rooftops in the southeast in the first image below. At this point the Falcon 9 first stage had completed its burn. It typically operates for about 2.5 minutes before ejection and eventual return to Earth for reuse. So, all the following pictures show the second stage rocket propelling the spacecraft toward orbit.  

The next four consecutive images spanning about a minute of time show the rocket rising above the horizon. 

The trajectory gradually became more parallel to the horizon. 

The rocket was now heading north beautifully illuminated by the rising Sun. 

At about 6:42 am EDT the second stage rocket shut off leaving the upper stage to continue on to orbit as shown in the next two images. The second stage typically operates for about 6.5 minutes, so I witnessed only about four minutes of second stage action.  

The upper stage with the Dragon 9 capsule continues on to orbit. 

This was definitely the best launch I've ever seen from my backyard!