NASA delaying ISS resupply mission due to capsule damage during delivery | FOX 35 Orlando
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NASA delaying ISS resupply mission due to capsule damage during delivery

By and FOX 35 Digital Staff
Published  March 27, 2025 7:09pm EDT
NASA
FOX 35 Orlando

Astronauts will need to stretch supplies after damaged capsule

NASA has said that they cannot send any new supplies to astronauts aboard the International Space Station because of a damaged capsule. The cargo capsule was damaged on its way to Florida. NASA says it can't fly, which means it may take a while for more food to make it to space.

The Brief

    • NASA officials have announced the delay of the upcoming Northrop Grumman cargo mission.
    • Authorities said the mission hit a snag, because the capsule was damaged before it ever made it to the launchpad.
    • This means astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may have to stretch some supplies.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - NASA officials have announced the delay of an upcoming cargo resupply mission, meaning astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may have to stretch some supplies.

The Northrop Grumman cargo mission hit a snag, space authorities said, because the capsule was damaged before it ever made it to the launchpad.

Troubles with transit

What we know:

NASA’s next mission is now a mishap because of troubles with transit. Officials said the cargo module was damaged during delivery to the Space Coast.

NASA says on the next SpaceX cargo resupply, they will make sure to have more food on board, so astronauts have enough reserves before the next round of supplies make it to space.

On Thursday, a NASA spokesperson told FOX 35 in a statement the agency is: "…adjusting planning for the company’s next commercial resupply launch to the International Space Station."

What's next:

The planning adjustments are moving the "next flight to the International Space Station for NASA, targeted to launch no earlier than fall 2025."

What they're saying:

"Everything you could possibly imagine to live is brought up by these various resupply missions," said Dr. Don Platt, a space expert and professor at Florida Institute of Technology.

Platt, who also leads the school's Spaceport Education Center, thinks some research may take a backseat to make sure the astronauts can survive without the supplies.

"What they’ll do is they’ll take off science, so that means you trade off things," he said. " You’ll have the supplies and what you need to live, but you won’t be conducting all of the work you’re supposed to be conducting while you’re up there."

Platt says this isn’t cause for concern just yet, because NASA still has SpaceX to send up supplies every three months or so.

"You never know when something may happen to a particular type of vehicle, so you really do need a backup for pretty much everything in human spaceflight," he said. "They’ll bring food. They’ll bring water, breathable oxygen; any equipment that may be broken."

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The Source: This story was written based on information gathered by FOX 35 reporter Esther Bower, who interviewed Don Platt over Zoom on March 27, 2025. She also spoke with several NASA spokespeople via email to confirm the latest details on the resupply mission. She was sent an official statement from NASA on March 27, 2025.

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