The US company SpaceX on Tuesday became the first commercial outfit to send its own spacecraft toward the International Space Station with the launch of the cargo-bearing Dragon capsule.

"Three, two, one and launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as NASA turns to the private sector to resupply the International Space Station," said NASA commentator George Diller as the spacecraft blasted off at 3:44 am (0744 GMT).