NASA has set target launch dates for the eight spaceshuttle missions in 2009 and 2010 that are expected to be the fleet's last.
The pre-retirement schedule for the shuttle has 10remaining flights, including missions already scheduled for Oct. 8 and Nov. 10of this year.
The plan is to replace the shuttle fleet with theOrion craft, which is being built and tested now.
But first, seven assembly flights are slated to completeconstruction on the International Space Station, with an additional twocontingency flights planned for completion before the end of the fiscal year2010.
The space shuttle Atlantis? upcoming STS-125 mission, setto launch Oct. 8, aims to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA initially delayedthe flight to make improvements to the shuttle external fuel tanks.
More concern arose when the previous launch of shuttleDiscovery damagedthe flame trenches extending from one of two main launch pads at CapeCanaveral, Florida. But repairs that started in late June should allow theHubble repair mission to goon schedule, NASA officials said.?
The on-time launch of Atlantis and Endeavour?s STS-126mission would make 2008 the busiest shuttle flight year since NASA?s return toflight following the 2003 Columbia tragedy.
NASA has long planned to phase out its three remainingshuttles by 2010, and anticipates losing3,000 to 4,000 related jobs at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Theagency has already begun transitioning toward a newera of spaceflight with its Constellation program.
The final shuttle flight is currently scheduled for May31, and would represent the 35th flight to the space station.
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