Program Has Been Extended Through February 2011

NASA is now targeting approximately 1633 EDT on Nov. 1 for the launch of space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission, and 1619 EST on Feb. 26, 2011, for the liftoff of shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 flight from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The target dates were adjusted because critical payload hardware for STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the previously planned Sept. 16 launch. With STS-133 moving to November, STS-134 cannot fly as planned, so the next available launch window is in February 2011. NASA will schedule the official launch date for each mission following the agency's Flight Readiness Reviews, which typically occur about two weeks prior to launches.

Meanwhile, Discovery's three main engines have been installed ahead of the launch of the STS-133 mission later this year. A turbopump on one of the engines had to be replaced, and that work required pulling all three main engines from the orbiter. Workers at Orbiter Processing Facility-3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will spend the weekend securing the engines and testing the main propulsion system. The astronauts who will fly Discovery to the International Space Station have a day off from training.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/shuttle