Helium leak disrupts second attempt at SpaceX rocket launch
Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 1:00 PM -
NASA says nasty weather may once again delay a cargo launch to the International Space Station.
The Space-X Dragon Capsule was scheduled to launch Monday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, but a helium leak forced officials to scrub that plan.
According to NASA, Friday afternoon would be the next opportunity to launch the spacecraft but bad weather could postpone it again.
Mission Control has rescheduled urgent spacewalking repairs because of the new launch time.
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Two U.S. astronauts, Rick Mastracchio and Steven Swanson, had been aiming for a Tuesday spacewalk to replace a backup computer that failed late last week.
The prime computer has been working fine, but NASA wants to get a new backup installed outside the station as soon as possible. These computers control the pointing of the radiators and solar wings, among other things.
The spacewalk will be either Easter Sunday or next Wednesday, depending on when -- or if -- the cargo ship flies. The Dragon contains 5000 lbs of food and supplies, including material that would prove useful for the repair, but is not essential.
With files from The Associated Press
