SpaceX postpones Dragon launch (Photo : Twitter/@Space_Station)
SpaceX had to postpone the launch of a Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station on April 13, Monday, due to ominous clouds that came too close to the pad.
The two-stage Falcon 9 was scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 4:33 p.m. ET Monday. However, anvil clouds came and formed within 10 nautical miles of the launch pad, which is in violation of flight rules, NBC News reported. Due to this, the mission managers had to scrub the attempt with two minutes and 39 seconds left in the countdown.
NASA launch commentator Mike Curie said, "Unfortunately, the west coast sea breeze won today."
The liftoff was rescheduled for April 14, Tuesday, at 4:10 p.m. ET, but according to the forecast, there is only a 50-50 chance of acceptable weather.
The launch may trigger a double shot in space history: delivery of the first zero-G espresso machine to the International Space Station, and the first controlled landing of a rocket stage on a seagoing platform.
If SpaceX pulls the landing off, be it today or after another of the 15 or so launches scheduled for this year, the Falcon 9 first stage could be restored and be used for a future flight, Vox reported. This, in turn, could minimize the cost of spaceflight.
The primary objective of this robotic mission is to deliver more than 4,300 pounds of supplies and payloads, ranging from everyday essentials to scientific experiments to the Italian-built ISSpresso machine. As of now, this is the sixth of at least 12 cargo resupply flights that is not controlled by a crew and is covered by a $1.6 billion contract between NASA and SpaceX.
The ISSpreso is intended to provide the space station's crew with fresh-brewed cups of espresso coffee in weightlessness-including the NASA astronaut Scott Kelly who is spending a year in orbit. It should also serve its purpose in an experiment of making life more comfortable in space.
NASA deputy manager for space station program Dan Hartman told the reporters that the psychological support in the experiment is very important for its success. "If an espresso machine comes back and we get a lot of great comments from the crew ... it's kind of like the ice cream thing, right, when we fly ice cream every now and then. It's just to boost spirits," he said.
