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Final Shuttle Flights May Be Delayed

NASA is looking at its alternatives

Jun 23, 2010 10:37 GMT  ·  By
Discovery and Endeavor may take off later than originally planned
   Discovery and Endeavor may take off later than originally planned

As most of you must know by now, the Space Shuttle Program, operated by the American space agency, is due to be terminated at the end of this year. The decision was taken because numerous experts have expressed concerns as to whether the aging orbiters are suited for flight or not. But NASA officials are currently looking at alternatives of not launching both remaining shuttle missions this year, Space reports.

At this point, the shuttle Discovery is scheduled to take off in September, on its final flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission has the designation STS-133, but under the new plan, it may take place in October 2010. This means that the last planned flight of Endeavor (STS-134) may slip from this November to February 2011. This new schedule is now being analyzed by mission planners at the space agency, who will then forward it to top officials, for approval.

“The change request will be reviewed by all affected parties – the space station program, the astronaut office, mission controllers. It's being discussed but there has been no decision made yet. They just need a little bit more time to get some of the spare hardware ready to fly on STS-133,” explains Mike Curie, who is a spokesman for the space agency, at its Headquarters, in Washington DC. He explains that the launch of Endeavor may indeed seem to slip by a lot, but adds that February is the earliest launch opportunity beyond this November.

Curie says that December 2010 and January 2011 are very hectic months for the Expedition 24 crew on the ISS, particularly because a large number of robotic cargo ships are scheduled to arrive in orbit. These missions will carry supply equipment, and will prevent the shuttle from taking off. Additionally, a new Soyuz mission will also go to the orbital facility, in order to deliver new astronauts aboard the ISS. Therefore, the first opening is February 28, and mission planners are seriously considering it. “The next really available launch window is in late February,” Curie concludes.