NASA sets July 1 launch date for STS-121
Posted: Sat, Jun 17, 2006, 8:38 PM ET (0038 GMT)
NASA announced Saturday afternoon that it has scheduled the launch of the next space shuttle mission for July 1, despite concerns raised by some agency officials. The shuttle Discovery is now scheduled to lift off on mission STS-121 from the Kennedy Space Center at 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) on Saturday, July 1, the first day of a launch window that extends through July 19. The decision to set the July 1 launch date came after two key NASA officials, chief engineer Chris Scolese and associate administrator for safety and mission assurance Bryan O'Conner, argued against the launch because of unresolved issues regarding foam debris shed by "ice frost ramps" on the shuttle's external tank. NASA said that while the two did raise those concerns, they did not object to the decision to proceed with the launch. The launch will be the first in nearly a year for the shuttle and only the second since the Columbia accident in 2003. Discovery will dock with the International Space Station during its 13-day mission, bringing supplies and a European astronaut, Thomas Reiter, who will remain on the station after the shuttle leaves.
NASA announced Saturday afternoon that it has scheduled the launch of the next space shuttle mission for July 1, despite concerns raised by some agency officials. The shuttle Discovery is now scheduled to lift off on mission STS-121 from the Kennedy Space Center at 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) on Saturday, July 1, the first day of a launch window that extends through July 19. The decision to set the July 1 launch date came after two key NASA officials, chief engineer Chris Scolese and associate administrator for safety and mission assurance Bryan O'Conner, argued against the launch because of unresolved issues regarding foam debris shed by "ice frost ramps" on the shuttle's external tank. NASA said that while the two did raise those concerns, they did not object to the decision to proceed with the launch. The launch will be the first in nearly a year for the shuttle and only the second since the Columbia accident in 2003. Discovery will dock with the International Space Station during its 13-day mission, bringing supplies and a European astronaut, Thomas Reiter, who will remain on the station after the shuttle leaves.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, February 9
Return to Moon Base Gingrich
The Economist — 12:50 pm ET (1750 GMT) Rockot to launch two Sentinel satellites
ESA — 12:40 pm ET (1740 GMT) Legacy of alumna astronaut continues past death
Purdue Univ. Exponent — 12:38 pm ET (1738 GMT) Spectra Systems Corporation Products on Their Way to Mars
PR Newswire — 12:38 pm ET (1738 GMT) Astronomy team that includes UCLA finance professor discovers nearby dwarf galaxy
UCLA — 12:30 pm ET (1730 GMT) |