Shuttle to launch November 16

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - NASA on Thursday said that space shuttle Atlantis is targeted to begin an 11-day flight to the International Space Station with a Nov.16 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:28 p.m. EST.

Atlantis' launch date was announced at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy. During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready.

The Nov. 16 target date depends on the planned Nov. 14 launch of an Atlas V rocket from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Atlas has reserved the Eastern Range on Nov. 14 and 15. If the Atlas launch is delayed to Nov. 15, the shuttle's liftoff will move to no earlier than 2:02 p.m. on Nov. 17.

The STS-129 mission will focus on storing spare hardware on the exterior of the space station. The flight will include three spacewalks and install two platforms on the station's truss, or backbone. The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttle fleet is retired.

Commander Charlie Hobaugh and his crew of five astronauts are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday,Nov. 12, for final launch preparations.

Also on Thursday, NASA released more findings from Wednesday's launch of the Ares I-X rocket.

NASA says the booster rocket used in a test flight was badly dented when it fell into the Atlantic. The new rocket was launched on a brief flight Wednesday morning.

NASA officials said that the first-stage booster was found to be dented near the bottom when it was recovered from the ocean.

NASA spokesman Allard Beutel says there's still no official word on whether all three parachutes on the booster deployed properly. A parachute failure could account for the damage.

The Ares I-X is a prototype of what's supposed to replace the
space shuttles and ultimately fly to the moon. The White House, though, may nix those plans.