Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has every reason to feel proud and, to a degree, vindicated following the successful debut of its Falcon 9 medium-lift rocket. In what undoubtedly was the most closely watched event in the space industry this year, the vehicle turned in a near-flawless performance - the only visible hiccup was an unexpected roll motion that SpaceX officials said did not affect the outcome and is easy to correct - as it placed a model of the company's Dragon cargo capsule into low Earth orbit.
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