NASA Says May 10 Is Earliest Date, No Official Word From SpaceX

The software glitch which cropped up during the test firing of a Falcon 9 rocket Monday means another delay for the launch of SpaceX's COTS 2 and 3 combined flight.

SpaceX had hoped to send a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS atop the Falcon 9 booster on Monday, May 7th, but the test fire did not go as smoothly as planned. Space.com reports that, as engineers analyzed the computer code controlling the launch, NASA officials said that it will be impossible to launch the Falcon 9 on Monday as planned. They had said that the next launch opportunity would be May 10th, but no new launch date has been announced. SpaceX confirmed the delay Wednesday.

NASA ISS managers reportedly would prefer a later launch date. A Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station in the current window, and any problems would leave SpaceX without a second opportunity to dock with the station should there be a weather issue or technical problem during the Dragon's rendezvous with the station. (Photos: SpaceX personnel prepare the Falcon 9 for launch. NASA images)

FMI: www.spacex.com, www.nasa.gov