CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- NASA announced Thursday that the launch of SpaceX's robotic Dragon capsule will be delayed three days. The International Space Station resupply mission was originally scheduled to blast off on Tuesday, December 16. But proceedings have been rescheduled for Friday, December 19. <\/p>\n
\"The change of launch date allows SpaceX to take extra time to ensure they do everything possible on the ground to prepare for a successful launch,\" NASA officials announced in a released statement. \"Both the Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon spacecraft are in good health.\" <\/p>\n
Friday's launch will be powered by the company's Falcon 9 rocket, and as originally planned, the private spaceflight company will still attempt to land the rocket's first stage on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean. <\/p>\n
Reusable rocket technology is key to the company's growth, CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly said. Being able to reuse vital components of its rocket could shave costs by a factor of 1,000. <\/p>\n
\"There are a lot of launches that will occur over the next year,\" Musk said at an aerospace conference earlier this fall. \"I think it's quite likely that one of those flights, we'll be able to land and refly, so I think we're quite close.\" <\/p>\n
The newly reschedule resupply launch will take place at 12:30 p.m. EST on Friday. The mission will be broadcast on NASA TV. A briefing with mission officials will be held on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. <\/p>\n
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NASA, SpaceX reschedule next week's ISS resupply launch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. Continue reading