SpaceX: Private rocket launched to space station
On Monday, Falcon 9 and Dragon underwent a successful static fire in prep for launch to the International Space Station, targeted for March 1 at 10:10AM EST.
Photographer: Courtesy: SpaceX
Posted: 03/01/2013
CAPE CANAVERAL - SpaceX was working Friday afternoon on a glitch with its unmanned Dragon cargo capsule, launched a few hours earlier from Florida on the company's second NASA-contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Shortly after the capsule separated from its Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX determined three of the capsule's four thruster pods -- which it would use to reach the station -- weren't initializing.
"After Dragon achieved orbit, the spacecraft experienced an issue with a propellant valve. One thruster pod is running. We are trying to bring up the remaining three," SpaceX spokeswoman Christina Ra said.
"Once we get at least two pods running, we will begin a series of burns to get to station," she added.
The Dragon is due to dock with the space station on Saturday. It's carrying 1,268 pounds of supplies for the crew and its experiments, NASA says.
The resupply mission launched Friday morning is the California company's second of a planned 12 under a contract with NASA.
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