spacetoday.net: STS-114 launch set for July 13

Posted: Thu, Jun 30, 2005, 8:36 PM ET (0036 GMT)
STS-114: logo (NASA)

NASA officials announced late Thursday afternoon that the agency has scheduled the launch of the shuttle Discovery on the first post-Columbia mission for July 13. The agency said the launch of Discovery on mission STS-114 is now scheduled for July 13 at 3:51 pm EDT (1951 GMT). In a statement, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said that engineers had "greatly reduced the risk" associated with shuttle flights, but that space flight in general was still inherently risky. NASA has designated this mission and the following one, STS-121, as "test flights" that will be used to confirm safety enhancements put in place after the Columbia accident and perform tests on orbit of tile inspection and repair techniques. Discovery will dock with the International Space Station, delivering 15 tons of supplies and equipment.