NASA is planning to make some changes to the target launch dates for the last two scheduled space shuttle flights. Scientists with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, or AMS, program recently decided to change out the current magnet in the particle physics experiment module that will be attached to the International Space Station to a longer lasting one. This will take advantage of NASA’s plan to extend station operations until at least 2020.
Because of the magnet change, space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-134 mission, which will carry the AMS experiment to the station and was targeted to launch July 29, now is expected to launch no earlier than mid-November 2010. An exact target launch date still is TBD.
AMS is designed to help study the formation of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter and antimatter by measuring cosmic rays.
Space shuttle Discovery’s STS-133 mission currently remains targeted for its Sept. 16 launch date, but managers will continue to assess its readiness for flight and make changes as appropriate.
The next shuttle flight, Atlantis’ STS-132 mission targeted for launch on May 14, remains on track with no changes.
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Atlantis is being readied for liftoff at Launch Pad 39A, the payload for the flight, an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module, was installed in the shuttle’s cargo bay Sunday. Today, technicians hooked up the quick disconnects for Atlantis’s two solid rocket boosters. And Atlantis’ six astronauts crew took care of administrative tasks at Johnson Space Center in Houston.