SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station for NASA, then attempted to land on a drone ship at sea. About 80,000 people tuned in to the SpaceX live stream as Falcon 9 blasted from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 40 in Florida. The entire Falcon 9 rocket is 70 meters tall — a 25-story building headed to space. The SpaceX Dragon CRS-8 mission delivered 6,900 pounds/3,130 kilograms of science, crew supplies and hardware to the International Space Station. The Dragon is expected to stay on the ISS for just over a month and then return back to Earth sometime in May.

credit: NASAKennedy

Mission Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, California, northeast of downtown. The official literature calls Mission Santa Barbara “Queen of the Missions for its graceful beauty.” Founded on December 4th, 1786, it was the tenth of 21 Franciscan missions in California. It is the only mission with two towers and six bells hang in towers.

Facts:
– Open daily 9am-5pm. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas day.
– 2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
– gps ( 34°26’16.65’’ N 119°42’48.21’’ W )
– tour prices ( $5 adult, $4 senior, $1 youth 5-15, Free under 4 )

credit: Randy Pertiet

credit: Randy Pertiet

credit: Randy Pertiet

credit: kevincole

credit: kevincole

credit: kevincole