CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX takes another shot Monday at launching a critical space station docking port for astronauts.
The last one went up in smoke over the Atlantic last year, a rocket accident casualty.
NASA needs this new docking setup at the International Space Station before Americans can fly there in crew capsules set to debut next year.
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The 5,000 pounds of station supplies also include a DNA decoder, or sequencer, for new space genetic research.
SpaceX’s unmanned Falcon rocket is scheduled to blast off at 12:45 a.m. Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Following liftoff, the first-stage booster will attempt to fly back to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
SpaceX has pulled off vertical landings of leftover boosters four times since December. The company hopes to launch its first recycled rocket this fall.