NASA names veteran crew for final shuttle mission

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--Chief astronaut Steven Lindsey, a veteran of four shuttle missions, will command an all-veteran six-member crew for the final planned space shuttle flight next year, NASA announced Friday. Peggy Whitson, an experienced space station commander, will take over as chief astronaut as the shuttle program winds down.

Lindsey will be joined by pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Benjamin "Al" Drew, Michael Barratt, Nicole Stott, and Timothy Kopra, all space veterans. Barratt and Stott are currently in orbit aboard the International Space Station while Kopra just returned from a long-duration stay.

Astronaut Steven Lindsey, seen here preparing a meal during his most recent shuttle mission in 2006, will lead an all-veteran crew for the final shuttle flight next year.

(Credit: NASA)

Launch aboard the shuttle Discovery on mission STS-133 is targeted for September 2010. During the eight-day flight, a modified logistics module used to ferry equipment and supplies to and from the space station will be permanently mounted on the Earth-facing port of the central Unity module. No spacewalks are currently planned.

Barratt, who launched to the station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft last March, is scheduled to return to Earth with Expedition 20 commander Gennady Padalka on October 11. Stott, who replaced Kopra aboard the station during Discovery's just-completed mission, is scheduled to come home with the crew of the next shuttle flight in November.

Only six shuttle flights remain before the program is retired, all bound for the International Space Station. With Friday's announcement, all of the crews are now assigned and no unassigned rookies remain in NASA's astronaut office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Here is the shuttle manifest as it currently stands:

• 11/12/09: Atlantis, STS-129/ISS-ULF-3 (external spares); 3 EVAs (spacewalks)
• 02/04/10: Endeavour, STS-130/ISS-20A (Tranquility module; cupola); 3 EVAs
• 03/18/10: Discovery, STS-131/ISS-19A (logistics module; science racks); 3 EVAs
• 05/14/10: Atlantis, STS-132/ISS-ULF-4 (Russian research module; spares); 3 EVAs
• 07/29/10: Endeavour, STS-134/ISS-ULF-6 (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer); 3 EVAs
• 09/16/10: Discovery, STS-133/ISS-ULF-5 (Permanent Logistics Module); 0 EVAs

[c60chemist]

There is a significant chance this will be the last NASA manned launch for a very long time. There isn't enough money to go around and budget cuts will certainly affect Ares. I for one would not take the bet that Ares will launch as currently scheduled.

[libertyforall1776]

It is time to get government out of the space flight business, and let businesses drive the adoption of space. I am tired of my tax dollars being spent for things that I did not authorize. Who best knows how to spend MY money -- yes, that's correct: ME!

[montex66]

Hate to break the news to you, but nobody gets to decide how their tax dollars are spent. Not me. Not you. Nobody. So your statement that you are "tired of my tax dollars being spent for things I did not authorize" is completely meaningless. You never authorized your taxes to be spent on anything at all, did you? Tell me, what is the point you are trying to make by claiming to have a power that you do not?

[ttomsk]

Oh right, like the Iraq War! I would love the brilliant American corporate model,GM,IBM,AIG,take over space science and exploration. Another American jewel flushed down the toilet. Great!

[RocketManMike]

You are a fool, what other branch of government has actually returned more for society then what was paid for the effort? Do you know NASA budget is less than a fraction of every tax dollar? Do you understand all of the technology spin-off's that have been generated by the space program? Do you know what NASA charges companies to use it's technology? (Hint - Nothing) There are certainly wasteful branches of government we could all do without, but NASA? <br /> <br />Get yourself a little education on how much the spin-off have driven our economy to date. Understand that continued space programs will only feed our economic engine more and more. All this stimulus talk and we have one program already in place whose objectives cause it to be stimulating by default, another spin-off. <br /> <br />Grow up, focus your ire in the right direction and understand that exploration traditionally has been the driver of many sucessful economies through out history. Undertsand the proportion of this cost compared to other government spending items... Maybe in the process you will learn to appreciate what NASAA has already done for you next time you need your cell phone in an emergency.

[RocketManMike]

Are you aware the total NASA budget is less then a fraction of a penny of each tax dollar? Focus your ire on something which does little to drive our economy, not this program and it's spin-off's. Recognize how dependant you are on the technology created by the needs for miniturized electronics and be happy NASA exist the next time you need your cell phone in an emergency.

[gefitz]

Well, I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to call the shuttle an "American jewel". But the space side of NASA (yes, a good portion of their budget is still spent on aeronautics research and development) has been mismanaged for years.<br /><br />They fail to realize that a coherent plan is not only necessary for their own internal use, but is also a critical tool for garnering public support. Now, I wouldn't be for NASA spending a quarter of their budget on marketing...not by a long shot. But someone needs to realize that, no matter what the budget, the public should know what's going on, and what the plan might be given various levels of funding.<br /><br />Of course, the taxpayer will decide. As a result, NASA will become more underfunded (a shame, given all the useless money that's being spent elsewhere), and private enterprise will eventually take over.

[selimranashelly]

To success."life &#38; world is beautiful.long live peace &#38; learn.love"

[charlesb255]

I guess that you do not realize that NASA invented a device that you use all the time if you have your own computer. (rollerball mouse)

[charlesb255]

I guess that you do not realize that NASA invented a device that you use all the time if you have your own computer. (rollerball mouse)