NASA sets new Space Shuttle launch planning window

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington Oct. 29, 2004
(Phone: 202/358-4769)

RELEASE: 04-363

NASA SETS NEW SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH PLANNING WINDOW

After an extensive review, NASA is planning its Return to
Flight Space Shuttle mission, designated STS-114, for a launch
window that opens in May 2005.

NASA's Space Flight Leadership Council met today to consider a
recommendation from the Space Shuttle Program to revise the
Return to Flight target launch window to May 2005. The council
endorsed the recommendation the May window, which opens from
May 12 to June 3, 2005, is achievable.

The agency was working toward a launch planning window that
opens in March 2005, before a series of hurricanes impacted
operations at multiple NASA facilities. NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala., Stennis Space
Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility, La., all
experienced shutdowns in preparation for one or more of the
four hurricanes in August and September, resulting in delays on
Return to Flight work.

"After four hurricanes in a row impacted our centers and our
workers, it became clear, we needed to step back and evaluate
the work in respect to the launch planning date," said William
Readdy, Space Flight Leadership Council co-chair and associate
administrator for Space Operations. "We asked the program to go
back and evaluate May, and they reported the milestones are
lining up. The May launch planning window is based on solid
analysis and input from across all elements of the program," he
said.

NASA's Space Flight Leadership Council is co-chaired by Readdy
and Walt Cantrell, deputy chief engineer for the agency's
Independent Technical Authority. The council includes the
directors for NASA's four Space Operations centers, Chief
Officer for Safety and Mission Assurance Bryan O'Connor, and
Deputy Associate Administrator for International Space Station
and Space Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik.

Videotaped sound bites from an interview with Readdy, with
related b-roll, will feed on NASA TV beginning with the 6 p.m.
EDT Video File. NASA TV is available on the Web and via
satellite in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-
Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0
MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80
MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is
monaural at 6.80 MHz.

For NASA TV information and schedules on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about NASA's Return to Flight efforts,
visit:

www.nasa.gov/returntoflight

-end-


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info