NASA issues revised 2008 shuttle launch schedule

NASA yesterday issued a revised set of dates for 2008 shuttle launches after a meeting to "evaluate options following the STS-122 [Atlantis] mission delay", the agency reports.

STS-123 on Endeavour and STS-124 on Discovery are slated for lift-off on 11 March and 24 April, respectively, although "any decision on those launch dates will take place after the current STS-122 mission lands".

The remaining 2008 gig dates are:

• 28 August: Atlantis (STS-125) to service the Hubble Space Telescope
• 16 October: Endeavour (STS-126) to deliver equipment to the International Space Station
• 4 December: Discovery (STS-119) to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the station

You can find the full launch manifest here.

Regarding missions beyond the current year, NASA says these have "not been assessed", and that both "shuttle and station program officials are considering options for scheduling the remainder of the shuttle flights".

The shuttle is due for retirement in 2010. ®