This spring potentially will be a period of great activity at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). If all goes well with tests that are currently being conducted on NASA’s oldest shuttle orbiter, Discovery, the final mission in the orbiter’s storied career will take place on Feb. 3.
March has not one but two unmanned missions set to take off from CCAFS. The second flight of the X-37B, the secretive mini space plane used by the U.S. Air Force will launch atop an Atlas 5. Also in this month is the launch of the Delta IV with its classified national Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload – NROL-27.
When Discovery’s final mission was bumped to February – the final flight of Endeavour slid back – to April Fool’s Day. That’s right, STS-134 is currently slated to lift off from Launch Complex 39A on April 1st. As with any launch, this is subject to change. Also scheduled to launch this month is the launch of an Atlas 5 with its Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) payload.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is currently planning the third flight of its successful Falcon 9 rocket for the summer of 2011. Whether-or-not this Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) flight will be another orbital run, or to the International Space Station (ISS) itself – has yet to be announced.
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