Shuttle return to flight delayed to September 2004
Posted: Sat, Oct 4, 2003, 9:59 AM ET (1359 GMT)
NASA officials confirmed Friday that they have delayed the launch of Atlantis on the first post-Columbia mission until at least September 2004. Atlantis is now scheduled to launch on mission STS-114 between September 12 and October 10, 2004, about six months later than the previous official target date. The delay is needed to carry out additional inspections of the shuttle as well as complete return-to-flight preparations. Shuttle managers caution that the launch could slip further; if the shuttle doesn’t fly by October 10 there are only a few days available in November and January before March 2005. NASA also announced it is adding another test flight, designated STS-121, to carry out additional demonstrations of on-orbit inspection and repair techniques. Discovery is currently slated to launch on that mission no earlier than November 15, 2004.
NASA officials confirmed Friday that they have delayed the launch of Atlantis on the first post-Columbia mission until at least September 2004. Atlantis is now scheduled to launch on mission STS-114 between September 12 and October 10, 2004, about six months later than the previous official target date. The delay is needed to carry out additional inspections of the shuttle as well as complete return-to-flight preparations. Shuttle managers caution that the launch could slip further; if the shuttle doesn’t fly by October 10 there are only a few days available in November and January before March 2005. NASA also announced it is adding another test flight, designated STS-121, to carry out additional demonstrations of on-orbit inspection and repair techniques. Discovery is currently slated to launch on that mission no earlier than November 15, 2004.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, June 29
France is betting Eutelsat can become Europe’s answer to Starlink — but experts aren’t convinced
CNBC — 7:20 am ET (1120 GMT) Blue Origin schedules launch for Sunday from West Texas
KTSM-TV El Paso — 7:18 am ET (1118 GMT) SpaceX Launch at Vandenberg SFB Wraps Up Busy 6 Months for Team
Noozhawk — 7:17 am ET (1117 GMT) India looks grand from space, Shubhanshu Shukla tells PM from Space Station
India Today — 7:16 am ET (1116 GMT) World ‘borderless’...India much larger than shown on maps: Astronaut Shukla tells PM Modi
The Hindu — 7:14 am ET (1114 GMT) |
