Aims For Four Flights In 2007 Despite Hail Delay

During a meeting Monday at NASA's Johnson Space Center, agency officials revised the target launch dates for six space shuttle flights during the next 12 months.

The space shuttle and International Space Station programs agreed to the changes during a meeting to evaluate options following the STS-117 mission's delay, which was caused by hail damage to the external fuel tank.

Flights beyond April 2008 have not been assessed. Both shuttle and station program officials will continue to consider options for the remainder of the shuttle flights and those target launch dates are subject to change.

Upcoming shuttle missions:

• STS-117 targeted for no earlier than June 8, 2007, on Atlantis
• STS-118 targeted for no earlier than August 9, 2007, on Endeavour
• STS-120 targeted for no earlier than October 20, 2007, on Discovery instead of Atlantis
• STS-122 targeted for no earlier than December 6, 2007, on Atlantis instead of Discovery
• STS-123 targeted for no earlier than February 14, 2008, on Endeavour
• STS-124 targeted for no earlier than April 24, 2008, on Discovery instead of Atlantis

NSA tells ANN the shuttles for STS-120, 122 and 124 were exchanged to best meet the demands of the missions and to have the least amount of impact on the flight schedule.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html