Spacecraft's Thruster Pods Failed To Initialize Properly Once In Orbit

ANN Update 1830 03.01.2013

SpaceX has confirmed all four of Dragon’s thruster pods are up and running. The company will continue to check out Dragon, test its systems for the next several hours, and perform some orbital maneuvers. The next opportunity for Dragon to rendezvous with the space station is early Sunday, if SpaceX and NASA determine the spacecraft is in the proper configuration and ready to support an attempt.

Original Story: After a perfect launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket Friday morning, the SpaceX Dragon supply capsule carrying stores and experiment to the ISS hit a glitch.

The spacecraft reached orbit on time at 1010 EST Friday, but a problem with the capsule's thruster pods delayed the deployment of the spacecraft's solar arrays. NASA relayed a message from SpaceX at 1122 EST that "One thruster pod is running. Two are preferred to take the next step which is to deploy the solar arrays. We are working to bring up the other two pods in order to plan the next series of burns to get to station."

At 1154 EST, SpaceX confirmed that the solar arrays had deployed after controllers on the ground completed an override of the spacecraft's onboard computers, and that there had been an issue with a propellent valve. An update at 1234 EST indicated "SpaceX has confirmed its Falcon 9 rocket lifted off as planned and experienced a nominal flight. After Dragon achieved orbit, the spacecraft experienced an issue with a propellant valve. One thruster pod is running. The company is trying to bring up the remaining three. Dragon's solar arrays deployed. Once SpaceX gets at least two pods running, it will begin a series of burns to get to the space station."

Dragon is carrying about 2,300 pounds of cargo, including scientific experiments, computers, and an air-recycling system.

(NASA TV image of Falcon 9 liftoff Friday morning)

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