NASA sets date for space station mission

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- NASA says it has set a date for the launch of a SpaceX rocket and capsule in the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station.

NASA and commercial space company SpaceX say a Falcon 9 rocket will launch an unmanned Dragon cargo capsule from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Oct. 7.

ISS program managers confirmed the readiness of the SpaceX CRS-1 mission as well as the space station's readiness to receive the Dragon spacecraft, the space agency said in a release.

The launch will be the first of 12 contracted flights by SpaceX to resupply the space station, following a successful demonstration mission of the Dragon capsule to the ISS in May.

The Dragon program will restore an American capability to deliver and return significant amounts of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, which since the retirement of the space shuttle has been accomplished by European partners including Russia and the European Space Agency.

The Dragon will carry about 1,000 pounds of supplies to the space station and return to Earth with about 734 pounds of scientific materials and research results, NASA said.