NASA Keeps Atlantis Target Launch Date, Moves Up Milestones

[KSC News Center <ksc@mediaservices.nasa.gov>]

Aug. 15, 2008

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 
321-867-2468 
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov  

MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-154

NASA KEEPS ATLANTIS TARGET LAUNCH DATE, MOVES UP MILESTONES

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- After thoroughly reviewing an option to 
accelerate the upcoming launch dates of space shuttle Atlantis and 
Endeavour by a few days, shuttle program managers decided Thursday to 
keep the current target launch dates.

Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope remains 
targeted for Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Endeavour's STS-126 mission to 
the International Space Station is targeted for Nov. 10 at 9:31 p.m. 
EST.

Atlantis is scheduled to move from its processing hanger to the 
Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, on Monday, Aug. 18, where it will 
be attached to an external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters.

The shuttle will roll out to Launch Pad 39A the week of Aug. 24. The 
date will be finalized early next week.

During its 11-day mission, STS-125's crew of seven astronauts will 
install two new instruments in Hubble, as well as replace the Fine 
Guidance Sensor. Five spacewalks will be conducted during the flight.

Atlantis will be commanded by Scott Altman. Gregory C. Johnson will be 
pilot. Mission specialists will be John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino, 
Megan McArthur, Andrew Feustel and Michael Good.

For more information about the STS-125 mission and crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle  

For more information about Hubble, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble 

	
-end-



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