NASA managers now have under active consideration delaying the last two space shuttle flights to the International Space Station to allow the payloads to be modified. If the plan is adopted, the launch of Discovery (STS-133) would be delayed by about six weeks - from September 16 to October 29, 2010. The launch of Endeavour (STS-134) would be stalled by over three months - from November to February 28, 2011. A decision is decision is expected next week. More details from Florida Today and Space.com.
Continuing in the background noise is the ongoing discussion of an Atlantis (STS-135) four member crew mission June 24, 2011 to ferry more supplies and cargo to the ISS. A decision on the proposed mission may come July 1, 2010 as well. The extension of the ISS to 2020 may help drive a favorable decision enabling to two commercial cargo carriers - SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation - to demonstrate payload delivery capability on-orbit.
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