The launch of Space X Falcon 9 rocket, carrying unmanned cargo vessel to the International Space Station (ISS), was postponed due to contamination that affects the rocket's hardware.
The launch was moved to March 30 from the original date March 16.
The contamination was observed in the unpressurized trunk section of the Dragon capsule. It was first noted while the engineers were preparing it for the launch on Sunday, Mar.9, at 4:41 am EDT.
The capsule is carrying about 4,600 pounds of supplies and apparatus and two of its six payloads are mounted on its trunk section. The engineers are worried that the contamination might "outgas" while the capsule is in orbit and cause for more serious problems for the rocket's hardware.
One of the payloads is the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) which will be used to test for laser optics in transmitting information to Earth from space. The other payload has four high-definition Earth-viewing cameras that will be fastened upon the station's hull. Both of these payloads will be unloaded by the station's robotic arm.
The postponement of the flight will buy the engineers enough time to fix the problem as well as to make way for March 25 launch of a Russian spacecraft. This spacecraft will put three new crew members in the ISS.
SpaceX released a statement addressing the delay of the launch but provided sparse details about its cause.
"To ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance and allow additional time to resolve remaining open items, SpaceX is now targeting March 30th for the CRS-3 launch, with April 2nd as a back-up," the company stated in an email, as reported by Spaceflight Now. "These represent the earliest available launch opportunities given existing schedules, and are currently pending approval with the (Air Force Eastern) Range."
The launch of Dragon capsule marks the third commercial resupply mission spearheaded by SpaceX. This is part of a $1.6 billion contract with NASA which requires SpaceX to make at least 12 flights to the ISS to deliver a total of 44,000 pounds of cargo.
