Obama calls SpaceX founder after successful launch

President Obama called Elon Musk, the founder of the pioneering private space transport company SpaceX, on Wednesday night to congratulate him on a successful first-ever commercial rocket launch.

Musk almost did not take the president's call. He tweeted that he thought the blocked number was a telemarketer.

The President just called to say congrats. Caller ID was blocked, so at first I thought it was a telemarketer :)

— Elon Musk ( @elonmusk ) May 23, 2012

SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) launched an unmanned spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Tuesday intended to dock with the International Space Station by Friday.

The craft carries supplies to replenish the space station, including food for the crew already in space.

If the flight remains successful, the test launch will likely be the first in a new era of privatized space shuttles.

---