Finally

Slate has an article by Rachael Levy on the latest in space:

We have (privately-funded) lift-off!
California-based SpaceX made history when its Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, carrying an unmanned vessel named Dragon into orbit and marking a new commercial era for space exploration in the process. The unmanned commercial supply capsule will deliver its thousand pounds of cargo to the International Space Station later this week. It is the first time that a private company has sent a vessel to the station, a mission previously reserved for only nations with major space programs, the Associated Press explains.
"Falcon flew perfectly!" billionaire SpaceX CEO and PayPal co-creator Elon Musk tweeted from his firm's home in California. "Dragon in orbit... Feels like a giant weight just came off my back."
The launch comes three days after a faulty engine valve forced the company to abort the launch at the (literal) last second. But all seemed on track for the mission in the hours that followed its pre-dawn launch. The vessel is expected to be within range of the ISS this week, when it will begin performing practice docking maneuvers about a mile out from the station in preparation for its arrival.
Now that US space shuttles are no longer flying— NASA retired Discovery, the last of its ISS shuttle fleet in April— NASA is banking on the switch from government to firm-backed carriers to compete with the likes of Russia and Japan and prevent further outsourcing. The AP reports that US companies are vying to fill those spots, and that American astronauts could carry out commercial rides to the station in three to five years' time.
You can check out photos of the launch from Florida Today here, and this video: