Jan. 11, 2008
Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.curie@nasa.gov
James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-06
NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH TARGETS
HOUSTON - NASA Friday announced Feb. 7 as the target launch date for
shuttle Atlantis’ STS-122 mission to the International Space Station
and mid-March for the launch of Endeavour on STS-123. Liftoff of
Atlantis from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will be at 2:47 p.m.
EST.
A decision by the Russian Federal Space Agency to move up its
Progress
launch from Feb. 7 to Feb. 5 enables both STS-122 and STS-123 to
launch before the next Russian Soyuz mission in early April. This
allows astronauts assigned to the space station’s Expedition 16 crew
to complete the tasks they have trained for, including support of the
launch and docking of Jules Verne, the first European Space Agency
Automated Transfer Vehicle. Targeting Feb. 7 also allows time to
complete modifications to the engine cutoff sensor system that
postponed two shuttle launch attempts in December.
Atlantis’ main objective during its STS-122 mission to the station is
to install and activate the European Space Agency’s Columbus
laboratory, which will provide scientists around the world the
ability to conduct a variety of experiments in life, physical, and
materials science, Earth observation and solar physics.
Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission will deliver Kibo, the first
section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s laboratory
module, and Dextre, Canada’s new robotics system to the space
station.
NASA managers will meet in the coming weeks to address the schedule
of
remaining shuttle flights beyond STS-123.
For the latest shuttle information, visit:
-end-