The launch of a commercial supply ship of NASA might be delayed till next week and may require a spacewalk by astronauts due to a computer outage at the International Space Station, the Associated Press reported.
With the backup computer on the outside of the orbiting lab not responding to commands, it requires astronauts to make the spacewalk, NASA said.
"The main computer, called an MDM or multiplexer-demultiplexer, is working fine, and the six-man crew is in no danger, officials said. But these computers control some robotic functions that would be needed for the upcoming supply run by SpaceX, one of two U.S. companies contracted by NASA to keep the space station well stocked," the AP reported. "A backup computer would need to be operating for redundancy of those robotic systems."
The unnamed Dragon capsule, which contains nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies and science experiments, is supposed to be launched by SpaceX on Monday from Cape Canaveral.
Due to unrelated damage to an Air Force radar-tracking device needed for rocket launches and the California company needing extra preparation, the mission is already a month late.
It was being determined whether the computer can be repaired or must be replaced by the Mission Control last Friday. However, spacewalking astronauts would be the only one to make a replacement.
Even though the launch of SpaceX is dated for a Monday launch, NASA will decide further depending on the status of the bad computer.
By grabbing onto the Dragon capsule and attaching it to the outpost, astronauts make use of the space station's big robot arm. Two Americans, one Japanese and three Russians currently have the space station as their home.
"NASA is paying Space Exploration Technologies Corp. - or SpaceX - and the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp. to make space station deliveries. Russia, Japan and Europe also conduct occasional supply runs," the AP reported.
