Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:53:52 PM CDT

NASA managers announced that space shuttle Endeavour is ready to launch next week on its final flight to the International Space Station following a daylong Flight Readiness Review on Tuesday. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Friday, April 29, at 3:47 p.m. EDT.

After 30 years of spaceflight, more than 130 missions, and numerous science and technology firsts, NASA's space shuttle fleet will retire and be on display at institutions across the country to inspire the next generation of explorers and engineers.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Tuesday announced the facilities where four shuttle orbiters will be displayed permanently at the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program.

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:08:41 AM CDT

Following discussions among the International Space Station partners on Sunday, NASA has targeted the launch of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission for 3:47 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 29. The delay removes a scheduling conflict with a Russian Progress supply vehicle scheduled to launch April 27 and arrive at the station April 29.

NASA managers will hold a Flight Readiness Review on Tuesday, April 19, to assess the team's readiness to support launch. An official launch date will be selected at the conclusion of the meeting.

The last-ever set of space shuttle solid-fuel rockets began taking shape Tuesday evening as technicians started stacking the boosters that will power Atlantis this summer.

Launch of this final space shuttle mission is targeted for June 28 at 3:40 p.m. EDT to deliver a massive amount of supplies to the International Space Station using the Italian-made Raffaello cargo vessel.

At Johnson Space Center, preparations for STS-135 – a 12-day supply mission to the International Space Station and the absolute end of the shuttle program – are unfolding with increasing urgency despite the absence of congressional agreement on a 2011 budget.

Space shuttle Endeavour's move from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A is planned for today 10th march at 8 p.m. EST. Managers will continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the day at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rollout was postponed Wednesday because of a storm front moving over the area. The delay is not expected to interfere with Endeavour's targeted launch date of April 19 on the STS-134 mission.
Source NASA

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:41:27 AM CST

At 8:37 a.m. EST, space shuttle Discovery fired its jets to separate from the International Space Station for the final time, setting it on a course for its return to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:58 a.m. Wednesday.

Ground tracks have been posted for Discovery's landing opportunities: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/news/la.... The Spaceflight Meteorology Group forecasts "go" conditions at Kennedy for Discovery's planned landing.

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:07:05 PM CST

At 6:17 p.m. EST, International Space Station Commander Scott Kelly became the first crew member to enter the newly-installed Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM). The PMM was attached to the Earth-facing port of the station’s Unity node earlier in the day and will provide 2,472 cubic feet of pressurized volume for storage and scientific use. Discovery and station astronauts will use their mission extension day to help unload cargo from PMM and dispose of trash in the HTV.

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut Mark Kelly will resume training as commander of the STS-134 space shuttle mission on Monday, Feb. 7. With the exception of some proficiency training, Kelly has been on personal leave since Jan. 8 to care for his wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in a Tucson, Ariz. shooting.

NASA managers are evaluating potential launch dates for space shuttle Discovery in late February and working to see if International Space Station on orbit operations would allow a launch as early as Feb. 24. More will be known next week and managers hope to set a launch date by the end of next week.