NASA delays shuttle return to flight
Posted: Sat, Oct 2, 2004, 12:42 PM ET (1642 GMT)
Citing delays caused by a series of hurricanes, NASA announced late Friday that the first post-Columbia shuttle flight will be pushed back to no earlier than mid-May of 2005. NASA had been planning to launch Discovery on mission STS-114 during a launch window that opened in March 2005. However, a series of hurricanes that struck the Kennedy Space Center over the course of a month shut down the spaceport for extended periods, delaying preparatory work. Another hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast last month also delayed work at the New Orleans facility that manufactures the shuttle's external tank. NASA is now targeting a launch window that begins on May 14, 2005, and extends to June 3. Another meeting of NASA officials is planned at the end of October to discuss the shuttle status, which could lead to another delay to July or September. Shuttle launches are constrained to launch windows that both allow the shuttle to reach the ISS as well as launch in daylight to photography of the shuttle during ascent.
Citing delays caused by a series of hurricanes, NASA announced late Friday that the first post-Columbia shuttle flight will be pushed back to no earlier than mid-May of 2005. NASA had been planning to launch Discovery on mission STS-114 during a launch window that opened in March 2005. However, a series of hurricanes that struck the Kennedy Space Center over the course of a month shut down the spaceport for extended periods, delaying preparatory work. Another hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast last month also delayed work at the New Orleans facility that manufactures the shuttle's external tank. NASA is now targeting a launch window that begins on May 14, 2005, and extends to June 3. Another meeting of NASA officials is planned at the end of October to discuss the shuttle status, which could lead to another delay to July or September. Shuttle launches are constrained to launch windows that both allow the shuttle to reach the ISS as well as launch in daylight to photography of the shuttle during ascent.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, January 5
Kogod students pioneer branding potential of International Space Station
American Univ. — 7:53 pm ET (0053 GMT) UA-developed Hubble Camera Helps Capture New View of Galactic Core
Univ. of Arizona — 7:52 pm ET (0052 GMT) L.A.-spawned spaceflight saga is launched in Portland
Los Angeles Times — 7:49 pm ET (0049 GMT) Latest Astronomy Conference Update: Closest Stars
NASA/JPL — 7:48 pm ET (0048 GMT) Dead Stars Tell Story of Planet Birth
NASA/JPL — 7:48 pm ET (0048 GMT) |