Miami, Feb 19 (EFE).- A rocket operated by Space X lifted off Sunday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center midway up Florida's eastern coast after a first launch attempt was cancelled the day before so that the craft's guidance system could be reviewed.

The Falcon 9 rocket was launched at 9:39 am from the historic 39A launch pad at the Cape Canaveral complex, carrying an unmanned Dragon capsule transporting more than two tons of supplies for astronauts on board the International Space Station.

"Dragon is on its way to the International Space Station. Capture by @Space_Station crew set for early Wednesday morning," said Space X - owned by magnate Elon Musk - on its Twitter account.

Shortly after launch, and just as planned, the capsule - carrying almost 2,500 kilograms (5,500 pounds) of supplies, including food, clothing and scientific equipment - separated from the rocket to continue aloft toward the ISS.

On Saturday, less than a minute before liftoff, the launch had been cancelled so that experts could make a technical inspection of the rocket's guidance system.

"Dragon confirmed in good orbit," tweeted the firm on Sunday, adding that the solar arrays had been deployed "right on schedule."

In another message, Musk added that although there was only a 1 percent chance that the guidance system would have caused any trouble during the flight, it was better wait a day and check it again just to be sure.

Pad 39A is the site from which the Apollo 11 moon mission lifted off in 1969 carrying the first crew of astronauts to set foot on the Moon, and it was also the launch site for many of the subsequent space shuttle missions.

Sunday's launch was the first from 39A in almost six years.

Last September, another Space X rocket blew up during a simulated launch at Cape Canaveral, causing the loss of the rocket and its cargo. EFE