SpaceX resets 1st private cargo launch to ISS for May 19

In this April 29, 2012, photo provided by SpaceX, a SpaceX Dragon capsule on the company'€™s Falcon 9 rocket is transported to a launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, announced the latest delay Friday, setting May 19 as the new launch date. A Falcon rocket carrying a Dragon capsule was supposed to blast off from Cape Canaveral on May 7, but additional software testing was ordered. The test flight is already three months late.
Associated Press

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. company has set a new date for launching a cargo ship to the International Space Station.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, said Friday it was now aiming for a May 19 liftoff of its Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule. It will be the first commercial cargo run to the space station.

The launch of the supply ship had been scheduled for Monday but was delayed for more software testing. The test flight is already three months late.

NASA used to stockpile the space station through the shuttles, but the fleet was retired last summer. The space agency wants commercial providers to carry up supplies and eventually astronauts.

In the meantime, NASA is paying Russia to ferry astronauts to the space station.