Spokeswoman Says Commercial Space Company Being 'Extremely Diligent'

SpaceX said late last week that it would be pushing its COTS 2-3 demonstration launch back to May 19th while its own and NASA scientists finish evaluating computer code which controls the launch.

SpaceX spokeswoman Kirstin Grantham said that no issues have yet been uncovered, but "with a mission of this complexity we want to be extremely diligent," according to a report from the French news service AFP.

"After additional reviews and discussions between the SpaceX and NASA teams, we are in a position to proceed toward this important launch," said William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations. "The teamwork provided by these teams is phenomenal. There are a few remaining open items but we are ready to support SpaceX for its new launch date of May 19."

The launch was to have occurred Monday, but a computer glitch during a test fire of the Falcon 9 booster caused the company to postpone it. The mission profile calls for the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to make a close approach to the ISS, and if that goes well, it will be grappled by the station and brought in to dock. The Dragon will be carrying a load of non-essential supplies for the space station crew. (Image provided by SpaceX)

FMI: www.spacex.com