This Saturday SpaceX will try once again try to launch the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, carrying a load of groceries and other supplies, to be delivered to the International Space Station.
The first delievery attempt on Tuesday was shutdown after troubles arose with the Falcon Rocket. If the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule takes off is sucessful on Saturday, SpaceX will attempt to land the Rocket on a platform floating in the Atlantic. If successful, this landing will go down in history because such a precise landing has yet to be accomplished.
According to Space.com, this rocket-landing test is a key part, and priority, in SpaceX’s and creator Elon Musk’s goal to create a reusable rocket technology and decreasing the expenses associated with spaceflight. So the sucess of this launch is quite important, as it would be the first toward acheiving those goals.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule are scheduled to take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 4:47 a.m. EST Saturday.
Photo source: Associated Press