The International Space Station's Expedition 20 crew is preparing for a busy period over the next few months.

› Consolidated Launch Manifest http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

Targeted to launch Aug. 24, space shuttle Discovery will deliver a new station crew member and science racks. The cargo-carrying Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) is scheduled to launch Sept. 10. A new station docking port, the Russian Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM-2), will be delivered on a Russian Soyuz that is scheduled to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Nov. 10.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- For the first time in more than a quarter-century a new space vehicle stands ready in NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building. The Ares I-X rocket, its simulated crew module and launch abort system are assembled on a mobile launch platform at Kennedy in preparation for launch this fall.

The final segments of the Ares I-X were stacked on Aug. 13, completing the 327-foot launch vehicle and providing the first look at the finished rocket's distinctive shape. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31.

"More than three years of hard work with the NASA and contractor team has brought us to this historic moment," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "This flight test is a critical step in continuing our design process for the Ares vehicle and the first flight for the Constellation Program."

Topics in this report:
1. Upcoming School Contacts
2. ARISS Contact Between Robert Thirsk and Ottawa Sports Camp
3. ARISS Contact with Euro Space Center, Night of Stars Event
4. ARISS Promoted at Quebec Hamfest
5. Astronaut Training Status
6. Electronics Weekly Interviews ARISS Member
7. ARRL QST Covers ARISS News

1. Upcoming School Contacts
An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP:3D) Academy in Houston, Texas on Thursday, August 20 at 18:16 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. KIPP:3D Academy functions as a public charter school, serving middle school age students.