NASA says it has successfully launched a suborbital rocket carrying student experiments from its Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The craft lifted off Friday shortly after 6 a.m. The payload reached an altitude of 74 miles before parachuting into the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 200 students from middle and high schools and colleges across the country watched the launch at the facility. High school teachers were also there to learn about the basics of rocketry to teach to students back home.

The next launch from NASA at Wallops is scheduled for Aug. 16. The rocket will be carrying more student experiments.

(AP)