Space technology company SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule have returned safely to earth after a successful launch Wednesday, marking a milestone for the future of commercial spaceflight.

Falcon 9 landed in the Pacific Ocean just after 2 p.m. Eastern time.

"While rocket launches from the Cape are considered a common occurrence, the historic significance of today's achievement by SpaceX should not be lost," NASA head Charles Bolden said in a statement. "This is the first in a new generation of commercial launch systems that will help provide vital support to the International Space Station and may one day carry astronauts into orbit."

Falcon 9 was the first vessel to launch as a part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program (COTS), which will provide cargo flights to the Space Station once the Space Shuttle program winds down in 2011.

"This marks the first time a commercial company has successfully recovered a spacecraft reentering from low-Earth orbit," SpaceX said in press release. "It is a feat performed by only six nations or government agencies: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India, and the European Space Agency."

SpaceX said that it will carry out a minimum of 12 missions to the International Space Station once the shuttle fleet retires under a NASA Commercial Resupply Services contract it holds.

NASA's own launch of its Discovery shuttle has been delayed numerous times since November due to weather, leaks, and cracks; it's currently scheduled for a February 3 launch.

The Falcon 9 launch was also delayed this week due to a crack that in the rocket's engine nozzle. The crack was repaired Tuesday, in time for Falcon 9 to blast off from the Kennedy Space Center at 10:43am Wednesday.