CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A resupply mission to the International Space Station hit a snag Monday morning when the Cygnus XL spacecraft experienced an engine shutdown during its approach, NASA officials said.
The spacecraft, carrying about 11,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, launched successfully Sunday night aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
The planned Monday morning docking, however, was postponed indefinitely after the spacecraft’s engines shut down prematurely during a crucial orbital maneuver.
Mission managers are investigating the cause of the malfunction, which occurred as ground crews were attempting to position the capsule for its final approach to the space station.
[VIDEO BELOW: SpaceX launches Cygnus XL into orbit]
Mission Status
The unexpected engine shutdown has forced NASA to delay the docking operation, though officials have not yet announced a new timeline for the attempt. The Cygnus XL spacecraft remains in a stable orbit while engineers assess the situation.
Cargo Details
The spacecraft is loaded with essential supplies and equipment intended for the International Space Station crew. The 11,000-pound payload represents a crucial resupply mission for the orbiting laboratory.
Next Steps
NASA engineers are currently analyzing data from the spacecraft to determine the cause of the engine shutdown and develop a plan for proceeding with the docking operation.