* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Space Shuttle Launch Schedule

Blobrana · L

NASA could keep its shuttle fleet operating through 2015 and close a five-year gap in U.S. human spaceflight, but the cost would top $11 billion, an internal agency study shows.
The risk to U.S. astronaut crews would rise dramatically, and plans for lunar exploration would be severely hampered.
But NASA could retain critically skilled workers during the transition between the shuttle program and Project Constellation, the nation's bid to return astronauts to the moon by 2020.

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Blobrana · L

NASA May Extend Space Shuttle 5 Years
Space Agency Examines Possibly Extending Shuttle Service
Cape Canaveral, Florida- With a number of reports from staff and service workers inside of NASA, it appears that the Space Agency is examining if the current Space Shuttle Program should be extended until 2015, when the next era space vehicle, the Orion, will be operational.

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Launch Date	Assembly Flight	Launch Vehicle	Element(s)
Oct. 8, 2008	N/A	Atlantis STS-125 (HST-SM4)	N/A
Nov. 10, 2008	ULF2	Endeavour STS-126	Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM)
Feb. 12, 2009	15A	Discovery STS-119	Fourth starboard truss segment (ITS S6) Fourth set of solar arrays and batteries
May 15, 2009	2J/A	Endeavour STS-127	Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (JEM EF) Kibo Japanese Experiment Logistics Module - Exposed Section (ELM-ES) Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC)
Six Person Crew Capability
July 30, 2009	17A	Atlantis STS-128	Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC)
Targeted for Aug. 2009	5R	Russian Soyuz	Mini Research Module 2 (MRM2)
Targeted for Sept. 2009	HTV-1	H-IIB	Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle
Oct. 15, 2009	ULF3	Discovery STS-129	EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 1 (ELC1) EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 2 (ELC2)
Dec. 10, 2009	20A	Endeavour STS-130	Node 3 Cupola
Feb. 11, 2010	19A	Atlantis STS-131	Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC)
April 8, 2010	ULF4	Discovery STS-132	Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) Mini Research Module (MRM1)
May 31, 2010	ULF5	Endeavour STS-133	EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 3 (ELC3) EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4)
Targeted for Dec. 2011	3R	Russian Proton	Multipurpose Laboratory Module with European Robotic Arm (ERA)

Blobrana · L

NASA Thursday adjusted the target launch dates for two space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is now targeted for Oct. 8, and Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station has moved from Oct. 16 to Nov. 10.

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As Shuttle Lifts Off, NASA Will Man Destruct SwitchJust in Case
If the looming Discovery mission or any other between now and the spacecraft's retirement loses control, NASA is prepared to ditch it in the Atlanticor blow it up.

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Blobrana · L

NASA officials on Thursday revised the target launch dates for space shuttle flights during the second half of 2008. The space shuttle and International Space Station programs agreed to the changes during a meeting at NASA's Johnson Space Centre to evaluate options following the STS-122 mission delay.
The next two shuttle flights, STS-123 on Endeavour targeted for March 11 and STS-124 on Discovery targeted for April 24, are being assessed and coordinated with NASA's international partners. Any decision on those launch dates will take place after the current STS-122 mission lands.

Late 2008 shuttle mission target launch dates are:
Aug. 28 - Atlantis (STS-125) to service the Hubble Space Telescope
Oct. 16 - Endeavour (STS-126) to deliver equipment to the International Space Station
Dec. 4 - Discovery (STS-119) to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the station

Flights beyond 2008 have not been assessed. Both shuttle and station program officials are considering options for scheduling the remainder of the shuttle flights.

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