Live coverage: SpaceX supply ship returns to Earth

The next three-person crew will launch to the International Space Station sometime between July 23 and July 25 after a two-month delay triggered by the failure of an unmanned Progress resupply mission in April, Russian officials said Tuesday.

The proposal would allow SpaceX to take over Space Launch Complex 6, United Launch Alliance’s former Delta 4 launch site, and convert it for use to launch both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.

Nine Merlin engines on the first stage of SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 rocket briefly fired up on a Cape Canaveral launch pad Wednesday, and the launcher cleared a customary pre-flight checkout in preparation for liftoff early Sunday with a Canadian-owned communications satellite.