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NASA Moves Up Key Dates for Shuttle Launch

PY4MAB – July 27, 2008 – 22:32
Space Shuttle

NASA aims to accelerate the campaign to launch shuttle Atlantis in October by moving major pre-launch milestones up about four days each, officials said Friday.

The 15-story external tank designated for the mission will be mated to twin solid rocket boosters on Aug. 3 rather than Aug. 7, Kennedy Space Center spokeswoman Candrea Thomas said.

If all goes well, NASA hopes to advance the orbiter's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, and then its rollout to launch pad 39A, by about the same amount of time.

Schedules still are under evaluation, but in that case, the Atlantis move to the assembly building would come around Aug. 18 rather than Aug. 22.

Space Shuttle
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