CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. company is on track to become the first commercial visitor to the International Space Station.
NASA said Monday there’s a good chance that SpaceX will make its April 30 launch date. More software testing is needed before a final “go” is given. Managers said they will meet again next Monday to review everything.
Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, will attempt to launch a cargo ship to the space station. The Dragon spacecraft will be hoisted aboard the company’s Falcon rocket from Cape Canaveral.
The company’s chief executive officer, Paypal co-founder Elon Musk, says the Falcon and Dragon are proven vehicles. What’s new is getting the supply ship to the space station. Musk was hesitant to give out odds for success. He stressed this is a test flight.
