Wed, Apr 28, 2010
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Mission Pushed Into November
NASA is planning to make some changes to the target launch
dates for the last two scheduled space shuttle flights. Scientists
with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, or AMS, program recently
decided to change out the current magnet in the particle physics
experiment module that will be attached to the International Space
Station to a longer lasting one.
This will take advantage of NASA's plan to extend station
operations until at least 2020. Because of the magnet change, space
shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission, which will carry the AMS
experiment to the station and was targeted to launch July 29, now
is expected to launch no earlier than mid-November 2010. An exact
target launch date still is TBD. AMS is designed to help study the
formation of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter
and antimatter by measuring cosmic rays.
Space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission currently remains
targeted for its Sept. 16 launch date, but managers will continue
to assess its readiness for flight and make changes as
appropriate.
Atlantis File Photo
The next shuttle flight, Atlantis' STS-132 mission targeted for
launch on May 14, remains on track with no changes. At NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Atlantis is being readied for
liftoff at Launch Pad 39A, the payload for the flight, an
Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module,
was installed in the shuttle's cargo bay Sunday. Today, technicians
hooked up the quick disconnects for Atlantis's two solid rocket
boosters. And Atlantis' six astronauts crew took care of
administrative tasks at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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