SpaceX aborts approach to space station, delivery delayed
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A navigation error forced SpaceX to delay its shipment to the International Space Station on Wednesday, following an otherwise smooth flight from NASA’s historic moon pad.
SpaceX’s supply ship, the Dragon, was less than a mile from the orbiting outpost when a problem cropped up in the GPS system. The approach was aborted, and the Dragon backed away. NASA said neither the station nor its six-person crew was in any danger, and another attempt would be made Thursday.
“As a pilot it is sometimes better to accelerate and circle around than attempt a difficult landing,” French astronaut Thomas Pesquet said in a tweet from the space station. “Same in space — we’ll be ready tomorrow!”
Just a few hours earlier, Russia successfully launched a cargo ship from Kazakhstan, its first since a failed launch in December.