NASA To Send SpaceX Resupply Capsule To ISS Despite Technical Problems

An anonymous reader writes "Despite a critical backup computer failing on the ISS Friday, an unmanned SpaceX rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral at 4:58 p.m. Monday with more than 2 tons of supplies for the space station. From the article: 'The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided to proceed with its resupply mission, despite technical problems with its computer in the International Space Station (ISS), as it needed to deliver necessary supplies.'"

WHOSE technical problems?

[Thud457]

please note, the technical problems are on the ISS and have noting to do with any Space X equipment.

Re:Open the pod bay door HAL

[taiwanjohn]

IIRC, they're not trying to land this 1st stage on land, instead they're going for a "soft splashdown" in the ocean. But if they get good "numbers" from this attempt, they will probably try a "dry" landing in the near future.

Re:Open the pod bay door HAL

[Megane]

I think they also want to try to recover the stage. Normally they break up because of the stress of sub-orbital re-entry or from hitting the water. (The Shuttle SRBs were designed to take the stress of splashdown.) If this works, it would stop and hover just above the water, then cut out the engines and flop over. This one might not be reusable thanks to salt water, but this is only one test on the way to the final goal.