Upcoming Space Shuttle launch dates

[Rico]

Some news from NASA on upcoming Shuttle launches...

NASA Updates Shuttle Target Launch Dates

HOUSTON - During a meeting Monday at NASA's Johnson Space Center, agency officials revised the target launch dates for space shuttle flights during the next 12 months. The space shuttle and International Space Station programs agreed to the changes during a meeting to evaluate options following the STS-117 mission's delay, which was caused by hail damage to the external fuel tank.

Flights beyond April 2008 have not been assessed. Both shuttle and station program officials will continue to consider options for the remainder of the shuttle flights and those target launch dates are subject to change.

Upcoming shuttle missions:
-STS-117 targeted for no earlier than June 8, 2007, on Atlantis
-STS-118 targeted for no earlier than Aug. 9, 2007, on Endeavour
-STS-120 targeted for no earlier than Oct. 20, 2007, on Discovery instead of Atlantis
-STS-122 targeted for no earlier than Dec. 6, 2007, on Atlantis instead of Discovery
-STS-123 targeted for no earlier than Feb. 14, 2008, on Endeavour
-STS-124 targeted for no earlier than April 24, 2008, on Discovery instead of Atlantis

The shuttles for STS-120, 122 and 124 were exchanged to best meet the demands of the missions and to have the least amount of impact on the flight schedule.

The shuttle launch manifest is available online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

For details on upcoming shuttle missions and their crews, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[Geekyfanboy]

Thanks for this info Rico.. I heard they were going to retire the shuttles. Does anyone know when this is going to happen?

[Darkmolerman]

heh a Space Shuttle is called Atlantis!

[JoSpiv]

The very first space shuttle was called Enterprise.   It was the test shuttle.    I've heard they named it that because so many Star Trek fans called up and wanted this to be done. 

If that is indeed the case, we must all work together and get the stars renamed to thier star trek names.  :)  Such as 80 Eridani is Vulcan.

[Movie Sean]

So sad that the Hubble ST is going to fall into disrepair after they ground them.

[Rico]

Going to sticky this topic.

[moyer777]

Going to sticky this topic.

I hate to play ignorant here, but what does "Sticky" mean?

[Geekyfanboy]

LOL.. Sticky is a forum term.. it means the message will stay at top of the window.. this way the message won't get moved to another page when more threads are added.

[moyer777]

Thank you, I had heard it used before, but didn't know what it meant.  Thanks Kenny!

[spidey27]

HDNET TO BROADCAST LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
Historic mission set for launch Tuesday, October 23 at 11:38 a.m. ET

DALLAS (October 22) The space shuttle Discovery mission STS-120 is scheduled for lift-off this Tuesday, October 23 at 11:38 a.m. ET and HDNet will be there to witness history as the launch marks the first time two female mission commanders will be in orbit at the same time.

Astronaut Peggy Whitson is currently in command of Expedition 16 of the International Space Station and Discovery commander Pam Melroy will lead Discovery mission STS-120. 

HDNet's coverage of the launch begins at 11:00 a.m. ET and will be hosted by HDNet World Report correspondent Greg Dobbs and former astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Charles "Sam" Gemar.

The mission of the Shuttle crew is to deliver the Harmony module that will provide attachment points for other European and Japanese laboratory modules.  The Harmony module will be the first expansion of living and working space on the International Space Station since 2001.

The module was christened "Harmony" after more than 2,200 kindergarten through high school students from 32 states participated in a naming contest.  The "Node 2 Challenge" required students to learn about the space station, build a scale model and then write an essay explaining their proposed name for the module.         

"This launch of Discovery will be watched by the countless students who participated in giving a name to the ship's precious cargo," said Mark Cuban, president and cofounder of HDNet.  "We're proud to bring this launch to these young people so that they can be inspired by the results of a project that they were a very important part of." 

[Rico]

Very cool.  Looking forward to it!

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Cool, I hope it works.  Nasa needs a break lol

King Linksr

[Rico]

Cool, I hope it works.  Nasa needs a break lol

King Linksr

Actually they have had very successful flights since they started up again a couple of years ago.  So I think they are doing well with the Shuttle program.

[iceman]

Thanks for the info

[Rico]

Oh this is the flight they are taking Luke's lightsaber up too!   :luke

Accoring to the latest Star Wars.com newsletter, Luke Skywaler's original filming prop from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is just about ready to make history as one of the first space film props to actually make it into space:

Luke Skywalker's original Jedi lightsaber, the famous movie prop from the Star Wars saga is now aboard space shuttle Discovery as it waits for its scheduled October 23rd launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The Jedi lightsaber has been carefully stowed away and will travel into space with the seven STS-120 astronauts to the International Space Station before returning to Earth 14 days (and six million miles) later to mark the legendary film's 30th anniversary.

During the two-week mission, Star Wars fans will be able to leave their best wishes to the space shuttle astronauts. Be sure to check http://www.starwars.com over the next few days for more information on how you can get a message to the shuttle crew and what the plans are for the lightsaber upon its return to Earth.

In the meantime, you can watch how the lightsaber's journey began as it left Lucasfilm's headquarters on its way to NASA in this video: http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000545.html

Click below for more at Star Wars.com!

http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000545.html