Terminal Count

The Shuttle Atlantis is already in its countdown; launch of the STS-117 mission is set for 7:38pm EDT Friday.  The weather’s improved: 80 percent chance of clear skies.  It’s another Space Station assembly mission; more HERE.  Meanwhile, NASA has announced a date for the one remaining Shuttle mission that’s any different from the others: STS-125, to service–and perhaps rescue–the Hubble Telescope, is now aiming for Sept. 10, 2008.  You’ll recall that after Columbia was lost, the accident review board deemed it essential that shuttles only fly if there’s a rescue plan in place–either the crew had to be able to seek shelter on board the Space Station, or another Shuttle had to be at the ready in case the first could not safely go through re-entry.  All these flights are falling behind, delayed by that freak hailstorm in February that damaged Atlantis’ fuel tank.  The last flight, STS-133, is in 2010.  If it happens.
(NASA photo: STS-117 pilot Lee Archambault and Commander Frederick Sturckow after landing practice at KSC.)