Posted
3/21/2007 10:56:00 PM
by Douglas
Next shuttle launch in May. Or,
Maybe
not.NASA managers won’t decide until next month exactly when to try launching Atlantis on the year’s first space shuttle mission, giving technicians more time to assess hail damage to its external fuel tank, officials said Wednesday.
The current plan means the launch couldn't take place until mid-May at the earliest.
f NASA decides to use the current tank, Atlantis might be ready for liftoff in the latter part of a launch window that lasts until May 21, said Wayne Hale, space shuttle program manager. But if NASA decides to use another tank, that would push back the launch to no earlier than June 8, when the next window opens. Between those dates, the sun's position is unsuitable for the shuttle to be docked at the station.
No hurry, guys.