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The end of an era in spaceflight history...
Last Flights of the American Shuttle Fleet
Countdown to last shuttle flight:
Launch is scheduled for May 31, 2010, at tba +/- 8:00 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT UTC)
NASA photo of Discovery STS-121 launch.
This is NASA's schedule for the last remaining launches of American space shuttles. Assuming no more major delays, the aging space transport fleet will be retired in 2010.
No more large sections will be added to the International Space Station after shuttle flights end. Supply missions to the ISS will be launched on Russian and European Space Agency rockets until NASA's new Ares launch vehicle begins flying in 2015.
Also, there will be no more flights to service the Hubble Space Telescope, which is in a different orbit above Earth from the International Space Station. NASA expects to replace the HST with the so-called James Webb Space Telescope in 2013.
Oct. 8, 2008 Atlantis (STS-125) conducts the final service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Nov. 10, 2008 Endeavour's (STS-126 / ULF-2) supplies the International Space Station (ISS) and services both Solar Alpha Rotary Joints.
Feb. 12, 2009 Discovery (STS-119 / 15A) installs the final pair of Solar Arrays to the ISS.
May 15, 2009 Endeavour (STS-127 / 2JA) installs the Japanese Kibo Laboratory's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section.
July 30, 2009 Atlantis (STS-128 / 17A) delivers science and storage racks to the ISS and returns to Earth with an empty ammonia tank assembly.
Oct. 15, 2009 Discovery (STS-129 / ULF-3) positions spare components outside the station, including two pump modules, a spare latching end effector for the station's robotic arm, a spare trailing umbilical system for the Mobile Transporter, two spare gyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, an ammonia tank assembly, and a high-pressure gas tank.
Dec. 10, 2009 Endeavour (STS-130 / 20A) delivers Connecting Node 3 and the Cupola, a robotic control station that provides a 360-degree view around the ISS.
Feb. 11, 2010 Atlantis (STS-131 / 19A) installs science racks to the ISS and attaches a spare ammonia tank assembly outside the station.
April 8, 2010 Discovery's (STS-132 / ULF-4) delivers the second Russian Mini Research Module, maintenance and assembly hardware, a boom assembly for the Ku-band antenna, and spares for the Canadian Dextre robotic arm extension.
May 31, 2010 Endeavour (STS-133 / ULF-5) installs two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre, and micrometeoroid debris shields
Learn more: Details on upcoming shuttle missions and crews
James Webb Space Telescope
Space Shuttle Milestones (CNN) »
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