Private company delays 1st space station visit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) ? A private U.S. company has delayed launching a cargo ship to the International Space Station.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, was scheduled to launch the supply ship next Monday. But company officials said that the spaceship needs more testing. The delay will probably be about one week.

The Dragon spacecraft will be first private ship to go to the station. It will be hoisted aboard the company's Falcon rocket from Cape Canaveral. NASA loaded the test flight with non-essential cargo of clothing, food, computers and science equipment.

SpaceX has successfully launched the Falcon and Dragon before, but going to the space station requires more proven precision. NASA is turning to private companies to carry cargo and eventually astronauts to the space station.

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Online:

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html

SpaceX: http://www.spacex.com/

Associated Press

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