A private space company has been given permission to attempt the first commercial cargo run to the International Space Station in February.

Nasa's approval came one year and one day after Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, became the first private business to launch a capsule into orbit and return it safely to Earth.

On February 7, SpaceX will attempt another orbital flight from Cape Canaveral in Florida. This time, the unmanned Dragon capsule will fly to the space station and dock with a load of supplies.

Nasa has turned to industry to stock the space station now that the space shuttles have been retired. The station's Russian, European and Japanese partners provide their own cargo ships.