Monday, June 15, 2009

NASA Sets Wednesday for Next STS-127 Attempt

Following a weekend of meetings, NASA has resolved the scheduling issues for use of the Eastern Test Range. This means that STS-127's next target launch time is 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 UTC) on Wednesday, June 17.

The range became available with the rescheduling of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS. Their new launch target, aboard the same Atlas V booster, is the very next day. There are three launch opportunities from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Thursday, June 18: 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. (2112, 2122, and 2132 UTC).

Sounds like a busy 36 hours for communications on the Eastern Test Range.