Test flight of Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket.
This photo shows the Dec. 2010 test flight of the SpaceX Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket. A launch toward the International Space Station is scheduled to take place in December of this year. Reuters

A spacecraft slated to reach the International Space Station with food, water and other supplies has arrived in Florida's Cape Canaveral, where it will remain until takeoff scheduled in December.

The spacecraft, a Dragon capsule, was developed by the private company Space Exploration Technologies, also known as SpaceX.

The Dragon is an unmanned reusable spacecraft developed under the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, according to the SpaceX Web site. It will be attached to a Falcon 9 rocket.

The launch is expected to take place in December, but NASA, which is sponsoring the flight, will have the last word on the actual date, according to SpaceX vice president for communications Bobby Block, Reuters reported.

NASA tested a Dragon capsule in December 2010 and a Dragon capsule simulator in June of that year, according to the space organization's Web site.

This has really been better than I expected, SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk said of the successful 2010 test launch in a NASA statement. It's actually almost too good.

While the capsule is expected to reach the ISS, it will not be able to dock unless given the go-ahead, Reuters reported.

We'll be prepared to go all the way to the station, Block said, Reuters reported.

NASA Florida Spacex NASA