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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - UPDATE: SpaceX has launched a load of supplies to the International Space Station, running at full power following repairs.
A Falcon rocket blasted off from Florida early Saturday, carrying a Dragon capsule with 5,500 pounds (2,500 kilograms) of goods. This recycled Dragon — which is making its second space trip — is due to arrive at the orbiting lab Monday.
The delivery is a few days late because of power shortages that cropped up first at the space station, then at the rocket-landing platform in the Atlantic. Both problems were quickly resolved.
SpaceX aims to land its first-stage booster on the ocean platform close to shore. The booster should have returned to Cape Canaveral, but SpaceX is still cleaning up from the April 20 accident that destroyed an empty crew Dragon capsule.
OLD STORY:
SpaceX delayed a supply run Friday to the International Space Station, but things are looking promising for an early Saturday morning launch.
A Falcon rocket was poised to blast off before dawn with a Dragon cargo capsule, but an electrical problem cropped up at the last minute with the ocean platform needed to recover the first-stage booster following liftoff.
SpaceX will try again early Saturday morning at 2:48 a.m. The delivery is already running a few days late, because of a space station power shortage that stalled deliveries until a failed electrical box could be replaced. NASA completed the job Thursday.
The landing platform was stationed 14 miles (22 kilometers) offshore. The new booster was originally supposed to return to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for eventual recycling, but SpaceX is still cleaning up from the April 20 accident that destroyed a crew Dragon capsule. The empty capsule was undergoing ground testing when the blast occurred. The cause is not yet known.
SpaceX said before Saturday's launch attempt, it will patch a helium leak at the launch pad that also occurred late in the countdown. With only a split second to launch the rocket, there was not enough time to solve any issues.
If the Dragon capsule isn't flying by Saturday, SpaceX will have to wait a week before its next try because of other Air Force operations.