NASA Moves Up Fall Launch Date Targets

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End in Sight: Final Space Shuttle Missions Slated
Space shuttle Discovery is purged - providing cool and humidified air conditioning to the payload bay and other cavities to remove any residual explosive or toxic fumes – while still on the runway. (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)

NASA is moving up targetlaunch dates for its next two shuttle missions by three days each in a bid toget both off the ground before a window of opportunity closes in late November.

  • Endeavour is scheduled to launch Nov. 7 on an International Space Station outfitting mission.

Senior managers areexpected to firmup the dates Aug. 14.

NASA faces a Nov. 24deadline to launch2008 station missions.

The station would not beable to generate enough power, or dispel enough heat, due to the sun angle onits solar wings between Nov. 25 and Dec. 17. NASA also aims not to launchduring the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

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Todd Halvorson

Todd Halvoron is a veteran aerospace journalist based in Titusville, Florida who covered NASA and the U.S. space program for 27 years with Florida Today. His coverage for Florida Today also appeared in USA Today, Space.com and 80 other newspapers across the United States. Todd earned a bachelor's degree in English literature, journalism and fiction from the University of Cincinnati and also served as Florida Today's Kennedy Space Center Bureau Chief during his tenure at Florida Today. Halvorson has been an independent aerospace journalist since 2013.