spacetoday.net: NASA defers decision on backup pad for Hubble mission

Posted: Tue, Jan 27, 2009, 6:27 AM ET (1127 GMT)

NASA managers decided last week to press ahead with plans to launch the space shuttle on a Hubble repair mission as early as May 12, but deferred a decision on whether to have a backup shuttle on the other pad for a rescue mission. Atlantis is scheduled for launch as early as May 12 on STS-125, the final Hubble repair mission. The mission had been scheduled for last fall but delayed after a data processing system on the telescope malfunctioned in September; the delay gives time for the crew to prepare to replace the faulty system on top of other telescope maintenance. Since there is no option for a safe haven in the event of problems with the shuttle, unlike missions to the ISS, NASA planned to have a backup shuttle on the other launch pad ready to launch on a rescue mission. That pad, though, is scheduled to be converted into a launch pad for the Ares 1, whose first test suborbital launch is scheduled for as early as July. NASA officials have decided to wait until March, when they will have a better idea of whether the Ares 1-X launch can take place on schedule, before deciding to go to a single-pad shuttle approach for STS-125.