Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. – An upgraded Falcon 9 rocket carrying a small science satellite for Canada blasted off from a newly refurbished launch pad in California today for a key test flight. The company is developing the rocket to fly cargo and crew to the International Space Station for NASA, carry commercial and non-U.S. government satellites into orbit at a cut-rate price and break a monopoly by Lockheed Martin and Boeing’s United Launch Alliance partnership for the U.S. military’s business. Vandenberg AFB CA. Sept 29,2013.