The need for additional software assurance testing has again delayed the launch of SpaceX's commercial demonstration flight to the International Space Station, the company announced Friday, until at least May 19. <\/p>\n
Photo of the Falcon 9 rocket's hotfire engine test on Monday. Credit: SpaceX \"SpaceX and NASA are nearing completion of the software assurance process, and SpaceX is submitting a request to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for a May 19 launch target with a backup on May 22,\" the company said in a statement released Friday. <\/p>\n
\"Thus far, no issues have been uncovered during this process, but with a mission of this complexity we want to be extremely diligent,\" the statement said. <\/p>\n
Launch of the Falcon 9 rocket on May 19 would occur at approximately 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT). <\/p>\n
The mission can only launch every few days to ensure the Dragon spacecraft has sufficient propellant margins for extra orbital maneuvers planned for the test flight. <\/p>\n
The launch slip puts liftoff of the test flight from Cape Canaveral after the docking of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft with three new space station residents - a NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts - to restore the lab to a full six-person crew. NASA and station partners avoid having two visiting spacecraft fly to the space station at the same time. <\/p>\n
The Soyuz is due to launch May 14, U.S. time, and dock with the space station May 17. <\/p>\n
SpaceX has blamed delays from the beginning of this year on the need to verify flight software can safely accomplish the Dragon spacecraft's final approach to the space station, a sensitive phase of the mission in which the capsule must be capable of recognizing on-board problems and executing an abort out of the vicinity of the crewed outpost. <\/p>\n
\"After additional reviews and discussions between the SpaceX and NASA teams, we are in a position to proceed toward this important launch,\" said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations. \"The teamwork provided by these teams is phenomenal. There are a few remaining open items but we are ready to support SpaceX for its new launch date of May 19.\" <\/p>\n
The last target launch date for the test flight was May 7. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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SpaceX sets May 19 launch for flight to space station<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The need for additional software assurance testing has again delayed the launch of SpaceX's commercial demonstration flight to the International Space Station, the company announced Friday, until at least May 19. Continue reading