SpaceX launches supplies to space station

April 19, 2014 09:42

The SpaceX company returned to orbit today, launching fresh supplies to the International Space Station after more than a month's delay.

The Dragon cargo ship will reach the orbiting lab on Sunday Easter morning. That pushes urgent spacewalking repairs to Wednesday; NASA wants a bad computer replaced before something else breaks.

This was the second launch attempt this week for SpaceX. NASA's commercial supplier had a leaky rocket valve Monday.

The valve was replaced, and the company aimed for a liftoff today despite a bad forecast. Storms cleared out of Cape Canaveral just in time for the afternoon launch.

The unmanned cargo ship contains 2 tons of station supplies, including material originally intended for the spacewalking repairs.

A critical backup computer failed outside the space station last Friday. The primary computer is working fine, but numerous systems would be seriously compromised if it broke, too. A double failure also would hinder visits by the Dragon and other vessels.

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