NASA sets Hubble mission launch date

Houston -- NASA has targeted Sept. 10, 2008 for the launch of the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials in Houston said space shuttle Atlantis will transport seven astronauts to repair and upgrade the orbiting observatory during the 11-day mission. The servicing is designed to allow Hubble to operate through 2013.

Mission planners have been working since last fall, when the flight was announced, to determine the best time in the shuttle launch schedule to support the needs of Hubble while minimizing the impact to International Space Station assembly.

NASA also will support a "launch on need" flight during the Hubble mission. In the unlikely event a rescue flight became necessary, space shuttle Endeavour would be launched for the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA said shuttle missions beyond the Hubble flight are still being assessed. The shuttles are to be retired when construction of the space station is completed.

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project between NASA and the European Space Agency.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.