Posted: Fri, Aug 29, 2008, 2:17 PM ET (1817 GMT)
NASA administrator Mike Griffin has directed agency staff to study what would be needed to extend the life of the space shuttle to as late as 2015, according to news reports. The Orlando Sentinel and NASA SpaceFlight.com reported Friday that Griffin has asked how NASA could continue to fly the shuttle past its planned 2010 retirement date, to as late as 2015, when the Ares 1 launch vehicle and Orion spacecraft are projected to enter service. According to the internal memo, NASA would not necessarily add additional shuttle missions but instead spread them out over a longer period, and would also consider retiring one of the three remaining orbiters.

Related Links:

•  Orlando Sentinel article
•  NASA SpaceFlight.com article