Two Space Shuttles at Their Launch Pads
September 23, 2008
The U.S. space agency, for the first time since July 2001, has two space shuttles on launch pads at the same time at the Kennedy Space Center.
Space shuttle Endeavour was moved to Launch Pad 39B Friday. It will serve as a stand-by emergency rescues vehicle should a rescue mission be necessary during space shuttle Atlantis’ upcoming mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. It is targeted to launch Oct. 10 from Launch Pad 39A.
“After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue spacecraft, it will be moved to Launch Pad 39A for the STS-126 mission to the International Space Station,” NASA said. That flight is scheduled to lift off Nov. 12.