NASA's Orion spacecraft succesfully launched early on Friday, Dec. 5, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The liftoff was postponed on Thursday due to issues with the launch rocket, wind gusts, and a boat that strayed into a hazard zone.
Below are some beautiful pictures from today's launch.
Orion will reach an altitude of 3,600 miles and orbit Earth twice:
![Screen Shot 2014 12 05 at 12.51.39 PM](https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5481ac83ecad040b15390b14-1200-706/screen shot 2014-12-05 at 12.51.39 pm.png)
NASA
Later this morning, the capsule will splash down into the Pacific ocean:
Orion will soar over Earth at 15,000 miles per hour:
![orion](https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5481ababeab8eaa6257577e4-1200-706/screen shot 2014-12-05 at 12.51.47 pm.png)
NASA
![orion](https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5481ababeab8eaa6257577e4-1200-706/screen shot 2014-12-05 at 12.51.47 pm.png)
NASA
Here's the view from Orion about one minute after launch: