NASA Approves Monday SpaceX Launch - East Idaho News
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NASA Approves Monday SpaceX Launch

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ABCNR 041314 Nasa?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1397410575047ABC News Radio(NEW YORK) — NASA approved a plan to launch a SpaceX rocket for a supply run on Sunday despite issues with the International Space Station’s backup computer.

The computer failure occurred on Friday causing failure of some robotic systems. The main computer remains operation and the crew is safe, NASA says. The SpaceX rocket is scheduled for launch just before 5 p.m. on Monday.

On Saturday, NASA determined that a spacewalk was required to replace the computer. The spacewalk is scheduled for April 22.

The SpaceX launch, previously scheduled, was approved on Sunday as well, and is expected to launch on Monday. Officials dispelled concern that the lack of a backup computer would cause issues with the space station’s ability to grapple the rocket and allow it to dock. The rocket will carry a replacement for the spacesuit that nearly drowned Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano last year, spare spacesuit parts, fresh food, a three-dimensional printer and Robonauts legs.

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