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May 19th New Launch Target for SpaceX Rocket

SpaceX test fire
SpaceX test fire

Commercial space company SpaceX has set a new launch date of its Dragon space capsule for May 19th.

The capsule atop the company’s Falcon 9 rocket was due to lift off from Cape Canaveral next Monday, but the launch was delayed to allow more work to be done on computer software for the mission.

SpaceX spokesperson Kirstin Brost Grantham said Friday the company and NASA have nearly finished the software assurance process.

“So far no issues have been uncovered during this process, but with a mission of this complexity, we want to be extremely diligent,” she said.

The backup date for the launch is May 22nd.

The aim of the mission is to blast the Dragon capsule loaded with cargo into low-earth orbit before docking it with the International Space Station, which will be the first time a commercial craft has been sent to the ISS.

 

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