Spacex Targets 455 Am Saturday May 19 2012 As Next Launch Opportunity To Orbit

SpaceX and NASA now looking at a SATURDAY MAY 19, 2012, with a backup launch date of Tuesday, May 22 for the Falcon 9 - Dragon spacecraft launch opportunity. Both dates provide a nighttime (4:55 AM) launch opportunity from Cape Canaveral for onlookers.

The commercial spaceflight firm and NASA continue to work software assurance relating to the dragon spacecraft approach to the Inetrnational Space Station two-days following the launch. Nonetheless, SpaceX has requested the new launch date.

"THUS FAR, NO ISSUES HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED DURING THIS PROCESS, BUT WITH A MISSION OF THIS COMPLEXITY WE WANT TO BE EXTREMELY DILIGENT," said company spokeswoman Kirstin Grantham.

Those dates will follow the launch of a new crew to the space station. The three-person crew including American Joe Acaba is scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft late May 14 Eastern time and dock at the station early May 17.

Reference: we-are-believe.blogspot.com