Falcon 9 Assembled at Cape

SpaceX workers have completed assembling all sections of the Falcon 9 rocket, which is scheduled to fly early in 2009 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral.

On Tuesday, crews mated the 5.2-meter payload fairing to the Falcon 9 first stage. This final step came a day ahead of schedule, according to a SpaceX statement.

Workers now will focus on the launch mount and erector. "All the pieces have been delivered, and the coming days will see a tremendous amount of welding to join them all together," said a SpaceX statement.

The company expects to raise the rocket to vertical early in 2009.