SpaceX has launched a new cargo delivery mission into the International Space Station (ISS) on behalf of Nasa.

During the mission, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft lifted off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US.

Around 5,500lb of research equipment, cargo and supplies were sent with the latest mission, which marks the first commercial launch carried out at Kennedy.

The latest launch was also SpaceX’s tenth cargo flight to the ISS under Nasa’s commercial resupply services contract.

Nasa noted that the research materials aboard the Dragon spacecraft include a crystal growth experiment that will crystallise a monoclonal antibody that is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of immunological diseases.

"The latest launch was also SpaceX’s tenth cargo flight to the ISS under Nasa’s commercial resupply services contract."

It also carried equipment such as the SAGE III for Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment, an instrument that will survey Earth's upper atmosphere under one of Nasa's Earth-observing programmes.

To be attached to the outside of ISS, the 2,200lb SAGE III will examine the ozone, aerosols, nitrogen dioxide and water vapour levels in the stratosphere and troposphere high above Earth.

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to depart the ISS with 5,000lb of science, hardware and crew supplies by late next month.

Last July, SpaceX launched a cargo re-supply mission to the ISS onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Image: A Dragon spacecraft lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.