A problem in a backup electronics box for the International Space Station’s robotic arm might have forced a delay of the launch of SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship, but NASA mission managers said the crew on board the ISS is in no danger
Updated: April 13, 2014, 2:40 p.m. E.T.
NASA will launch SpaceX’s Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday as planned despite a failure in a backup electronics box for the station’s robotic arm.
NASA mission managers said on Saturday the crew on board the ISS is in no danger, but a problem in a backup computer component could have forced a postponement, NBC reports. NASA announced on Sunday, however, it would proceed with the launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., late on Monday afternoon.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule, which is slated to carry 4,600 lb. (2,086 kg) of supplies to the International Space Station, is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The proper functioning of the robotic-arm system is required to attach the Dragon to the International Space Station. While the primary system is working as expected, a backup box stopped responding to commands on Friday.
The primary operations on the arm continue to run flawlessly and do not impact station operations, NASA said on Sunday.
[NBC]