SpaceX to resupply space station

Posted on Oct 6, 2012 in Science | 0 comments

SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral, Fla., the first of 12 cargo missions to the International Space Station, company officials said.

The rocket will be carrying a capsule packed with 1,000 pounds of food, water and supplies bound for the ISS.

“I’m still quite nervous about it because it’s just our second mission to the station,” Elon Musk, SpaceX founder and chief executive said. “We’re hoping that this mission goes as smoothly as the last one.”

SpaceX performed a successful demonstration mission in May, showing NASA it could do the job — and securing the $1.6-billion contract, the Los Angeles Times reported.

SpaceX secured a $440-million contract from NASA in August to develop a capsule to carry astronauts.

Company officials said the upcoming cargo missions will provide SpaceX with necessary flight experience for accomplishing that goal by 2015.

Copyright 2012 by United Press International