SpaceX cargo aborts docking at space station

Scientists are reworking plans for the arrival on Thursday of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft after its docking with the International Space Station was aborted early Wednesday morning, NASA said.

SpaceX on Sunday launched its 10th cargo mission to the space station from the historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) -- originally built for the Apollo/Saturn V missions -- at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Dragon cargo craft carrying about 2,500 kg of experimental equipment and supplies as part of the mission was scheduled to be docked at the space station on Wednesday morning.

But the Dragon's computers received an incorrect navigational update, triggering an automatic wave off.

"Dragon was sent on a 'racetrack' trajectory in front of, above and behind the station for a second rendezvous attempt Thursday," NASA said.

Dragon is in excellent shape and neither the crew nor the station were in any danger, the US space agency assured.

Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet on Thursday will oversee the Dragon capture operations at around 6 a.m. EST (4:30 PM Thursday India time).

--IANS

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