April 30, 2009

Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 candrea k thomas@nasa gov

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 katherine trinidad@nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-093

NASA GIVES 'GO' FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ON MAY 11

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA managers completed a review Thursday of space shuttle Atlantis' readiness for flight and selected an official launch date for the STS-125 mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope Commander Scott Altman and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 2:01 p m EDT, May 11, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Atlantis' launch date was announced following Thursday's Flight Readiness Review During the meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight

Atlantis' 11-day mission will include five spacewalks to refurbish Hubble with state-of-the-art science instruments After the astronauts' visit, the telescope's capabilities will be expanded and its lifetime extended through at least 2014

Commander Altman will be joined on the mission by Pilot Gregory C Johnson and Mission Specialists Andrew Feustel, Michael Good, John Grunsfeld, Megan McArthur and Mike Massimino The spacewalkers are Feustel, Good, Grunsfeld and Massimino McArthur is the flight engineer and lead for robotic arm operations

For more information about the STS-125 crew and its mission, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:

http://www nasa gov/hubble

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