Although inspections and repairs of electrical wiring are continuing, Space Shuttle managers today announced tentative target launch dates for the next two Shuttle missions, STS-103 and STS-99.
Managers established STS-103, the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 3A, as the next Shuttle flight with a launch targeted for no earlier than Oct. 28, 1999. A target launch date of no earlier than Nov. 19, 1999, was set for the launch of STS-99, the Space Radar Topography Mission.
Managers have directed all those involved in flight preparations to work toward these dates, however the launch dates remain tentative pending the outcome of the current wiring work.
"We've established these planning dates so that those involved in flight preparations can establish the proper order of priority for work on each mission," Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore said.
"However, we are continuing to review the progress of wiring inspections and repairs on Endeavour and Discovery and, as part of our continuing evaluations of those activities, we may need to revisit the subject and further adjust our target launch dates as those repairs progress. We will not fly any mission until we are satisfied that we have safely resolved the all wiring problems we have found," added Dittemore.
