US company SpaceX yesterday successfully launched a space capsule into orbit and back, marking the first such attempt by a private enterprise and a major milestone in the future of space travel. The Dragon spacecraft, which could one day carry astronauts and supplies into space after the government-run shuttles are retired, blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida atop the massive Falcon 9 rocket. The bullet-shaped capsule entered orbit about 10 minutes later, then circled the Earth twice before re-entering the atmosphere from low orbit, and splash-landed into the Pacific Ocean. No one was aboard the Dragon space capsule on this flight, but it has room for seven crew and an ample cargo hold that could supply the International Space Station, after NASA closes down its space shuttle programme next year.