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NASA Plans Discovery Launch May 15

Posted by timothy on from the could-it-lift-its-weight-in-$1-bills dept.

Haxx writes "More than two years after losing the space shuttle Columbia and its seven crew, NASA said Friday it has set May 15 as its target date for once again launching shuttles into space." Reader gollum123 writes points out Reuters's version of the story, which says that "May 15 was chosen as the launch date for Discovery and its seven-member crew because of lighting conditions and thermal issues related to the shuttle's launch and docking at the International Space Station."

2 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Re:You have to wonder... by Dipster · · Score: 5, Informative

    Russia can't handle the ISS. The shuttle is the only vehicle that can handle lifting the larger parts of the station. Russia can only resupply and and lift small items for the ISS. Until the shuttles get back into it, ISS constuction is on hold.

  2. Re:What about Atlantis? by kalidasa · · Score: 4, Informative

    Go to the Return to Flight page. Atlantis will be ready for a launch on July 12: that's not an emergency turnaround, but a full-fledged mission. I don't imagine that Discovery will be in a position to act as emergency rescue vehicle for that mission, though, as even July 26 (i.e., 2 weeks after the planned launch date for Atlantis) will be only 2 months after the shuttle's planned landing on May 27. Endeavour is in major modification mode.