U.S. private company SpaceX will launch its Dragon space freighter on a next resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in October this year, the Universe Today portal said. It will be the first of the company's 12 commercial flights to the ISS under a 2008 contract with NASA as the initial successful mission in May was considered a test run.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced on Thursday that SpaceX is now fully certified to deliver cargo to the orbital station, the Universe Today said.

The Dragon is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX to fly cargo to the ISS after NASA retired its space shuttle fleet last year.

NASA also awarded SpaceX a Commercial Crew Development contract in April 2011 to develop a reusable spacecraft to carry up to seven astronauts, or a combination of personnel and cargo, to and from the orbital station.

At present, NASA pays Russia a hefty $63 mln for every astronaut who flies to the ISS aboard Soyuz spacecraft.

Source: RIA Novosti