Source: Xinhua

05-01-2009 14:49

Special Report:   Tech Max

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Xinhua) -- NASA managers have selected May 11 as space shuttle Atlantis' official launch date for the STS-125 mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA said Thursday.

Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125 crew member Megan McArthur laughs in response to a question during a news conference at  the Johnson Space Center in Houston April 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Commander Scott Altman and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 2:01 p.m. EDT, May 11, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said in a press release.

Atlantis' launch date was announced following Thursday's Flight Readiness Review. During the meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight.

Atlantis' 11-day mission will include five spacewalks to refurbish Hubble with state-of-the-art science instruments. After the astronauts' visit, the telescope's capabilities will be expanded and its lifetime extended through at least 2014.

 

Editor:Zheng Limin