SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launches into orbit despite engine trouble

California company SpaceX successfully launched its Dragon spacecraft into orbit Sunday evening despite losing an engine shortly after liftoff.

The launch was the first time a SpaceX falcon 9 rocket has flown without delay on the first scheduled launch time, but one of its nine Merlin engines did experience failure early into its ascent. Though it appeared to witnesses that the engine had exploded, SpaceX is saying that is not the case, and that the eight remaining engines were more than enough to carry Dragon safely into orbit.

The Dragon capsule is expected to rendezvous with the International Space Station on Wednesday morning.