SpaceX readies for new rocket launch to space lab

US: SpaceX on Tuesday readied a fresh bid to become the first private firm to launch a craft to the space station after fixing an engine problem that grounded its earlier attempt.

The launch of the Dragon space capsule atop the Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for 3:44 am (0744 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to carry supplies to the International Space Station, an orbiting research lab.

"The Falcon 9 has been fully fueled and is awaiting launch. Weather in Florida is warm and clear," NASA said on the Twitter micro-blogging site. Officials said there was an 80 percent chance of favorable weather.

The test flight -- which should include a fly-by and berthing with the station in the coming days -- aims to show that private industry can restore US access to the ISS after NASA retired its space shuttle fleet last year.

No humans are traveling aboard the Dragon, but six astronauts are already at the $100-billion space lab to help the capsule latch on, to unload supplies and then restock the capsule with cargo to take back to Earth. The Saturday launch attempt was scrubbed at the last second when computers detected high pressure in the central engine of the Falcon 9.

AFP

SpaceX engineers discovered the root cause was a faulty check valve.

"The failed valve was replaced on Saturday and after thorough analysis the vehicle has been cleared for launch," SpaceX spokeswoman Kirstin Brost Grantham said in a statement.

If for some reason Tuesday's launch window cannot be met, another opportunity opens up on Friday. SpaceX had mentioned Wednesday as a potential launch day but later decided Friday would be a better alternative.

California-based SpaceX is the first of several US competitors to try sending its own spacecraft to the ISS with the goal of restoring US access to space for human travelers by 2015.

The company successfully test-launched its Falcon 9 rocket in June 2010, then made history with its Dragon launch in December 2010, becoming the first commercial outfit to send a spacecraft into orbit and back. Its reusable Dragon capsule has been built to carry both cargo and up to seven crew.

Until now, only the space agencies of Russia, Japan and Europe have been able to send supply ships to the ISS.

The three-decade US shuttle program, which ferried astronauts and cargo to the research outpost, ended for good in 2011, leaving Russia as the sole taxi to the ISS until private industry comes up with a replacement.

The US space agency has given SpaceX about $390 million so far of the total $680 million that the company has spent on cargo development. SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA for future supply missions. AFP