Black mould found during inspection, so Cygnus cargo ship had to be unpacked and everything disinfected, pushing launch back to late March

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Nasa’s next cargo run to the International Space Station will be delayed for at least two weeks after black mould was found in two fabric bags used for packing clothing, food and other supplies.



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The source of the mould, common in humid climates like Florida’s, is under investigation by Nasa and Lockheed Martin, which prepares cargo for launch aboard two commercial carriers, Orbital ATK and privately owned SpaceX.

An Orbital Cygnus cargo ship was more than halfway packed for the launch, scheduled for 10 March, when the mould was found during routine inspections and tests, said Nasa spokesman Daniel Huot.

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Nasa and Lockheed decided to unpack the cargo, disinfect all the bags and repack, delaying launch.

The Cygnus’s liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is now scheduled for late March.

Had the mould reached the station, the crew would not have been in any danger, but Nasa decided to clean the bags as a precaution, Huot added.

Nasa is still assessing what, if any, impact delaying the Cygnus launch will have on the next cargo run planned by SpaceX. SpaceX has not delivered supplies to the space station since April 2015. Its last shipment was destroyed in a June 2015 launch accident.