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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – SpaceX's next cargo mission to the International Space Station has been delayed for at least 24 hours due to technical issues.
The company's two-story Falcon 9 rocket was to launch a robot Dragon cargo capsule from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base at 3:11 am EDT (07:11 GMT) today (May 3).
However, while refueling procedures were in progress and there was less than 15 minutes left in the countdown, launch officials requested a hold. They cited a helium leak on the fast disconnection of the second stage of the rocket, as well as an electrical problem with the drone "Of course, I still love you", which will serve as a platform for the launch. landing for the reusable first stage of the thruster upon return to the ground.
Due to the instant launch window, the crews had to give up the current attempt to try to solve the problems.
Related: How SpaceX Dragon Space Capsule Works (Infographic)
Stay away today because of an electrical problem on the Drones Of Course I Still Love You. The teams will also tackle the ground-side helium leak before tomorrow's emergency launch at 14:48 EDT, 18:48 UTC.May 3, 2019
The next attempt is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th at 14:48 EDT (6:48 GMT). According to the 45th Air Force Meteorological Squadron, when the weather is nice, there is a 70% chance that the weather will be nice.
Today 's delay is the latest in a series of slippages that have seen the launch launch from April 26 to (now) May 4.
If the Falcon 9 can not take off on Saturday, the next attempt will be no later than 12 or 13 May. This is due to a scheduled week-long shutdown of the Eastern Range, which supports launches at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, near NASA. the officials said.
At launch, the Dragon will carry more than 5,500 pounds. (2,495 kg) of cargo, crew supplies and research experiments for the space station. One of the payloads is an experiment called Photobioreactor, which will test the culture of microalgae that will one day serve as food and oxygen source to the space station.
A series of investigations on fabric fragments is also on board. In the Dragon hold are four different varieties: a chip for the lung and bone marrow, a chip for cartilage and bone, a chip that simulates the blood-brain barrier and one for kidney cell culture . The researchers say that the chips will help astronauts to monitor the simulated reactions of organs in space.
Another exciting tool is tucked inside the Dragon's chest. Once unpacked, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 instrument will be connected to the outside of the space station via a robotic arm, where it will measure atmospheric carbon dioxide and map gas sources and sinks.
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