The firm, established by Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, has a design for a capsule and two-stage rocket.

BBC: US firms target astronaut flights

The concept calls for a two-stage rocket that would be powered by engines burning liquid oxygen and kerosene.

BBC: Science & Environment

It is a two-stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene.

BBC: The new Falcon 1 rocket has been lost on its maiden flight.

The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket uses nine engines to generate 855, 000 pounds of thrust, and is capable of carrying more than than 7, 000 pounds of cargo.

FORBES: Live Feed: SpaceX's Resupply Mission To The International Space Station

The CRS-2 supply mission, operated by Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX, lifted off successfully on a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:10 AM Eastern time.

FORBES: SpaceX Struggles, But Remains On Track To Space Station

One of its two wind probes was knocked out, most probably by a piece of grit kicked up by the rocket-powered descent stage that placed Curiosity on the surface.

BBC: Dust-devils flirt with Curiosity Mars rover