The future may be in sight as NASA sets last launch of shuttle program

13 News: The future may be in sight as NASA sets last launch of shuttle program
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER --
NASA has set a date for what could be the last flight of the space shuttle program.

Program managers have now officially added STS-135 to the launch manifest. In one sense that's a technical and bureaucratic step, but it clears the way for planning and scheduling at all levels of the space agency.

June 28 is now the target date for shuttle Atlantis' flight.

Two weeks ago, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden was in town, and I asked about that mission. He was adamant they would fly it, even though the budget bill was still up in the air, and he told me it would fly in June.

That could change, of course, and one of the reasons may be the requirements of the International Space Station scheduling.

So three shuttle flights are on the schedule to wrap up the program. The first is Discovery's launch next month, and then the launch of Endeavour in April.

That was supposed to be the last shuttle mission, but last year, Congress authorized the third mission, now STS-135.

Interestingly enough, as the end of shuttle is in sight, Thursday afternoon provided a look at way the future of American space exploration, or at least one future.

United Launch Alliance successfully sent a Delta IV Heavy rocket in orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

It carried a National Reconnaissance Office payload, which means a spy satellite. No information was provided about its orbit or what it will be doing. We can be pretty confident it was launched in a polar orbit (South Pole to North Pole and back), which is the main reason to launch from Vandenberg. From KSC we go east, while from Vandenberg we go south. A polar orbit means every part of the Earth will come into view as the satellite travels its path and the Earth rotates under it.

What is more interesting, perhaps, is the rocket itself. Delta IV Heavy is our biggest and most powerful rocket. This was its first launch from the west coast, and only fifth launch overall. It is a classic liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen fueled vehicle, that can carry payloads into low-Earth orbit, and even geosynchronous orbit over 22,000 miles up.

With all the changes in the way NASA is to carry out its mission, the Delta IV Heavy, or an offshoot, would certainly have to be considered a viable contender for future use -- for supply missions to the ISS, or even manned missions, although that will require safety additions and a lot of certification.

But we do now that Lockheed plans to test their Orion capsule, a potential future crew capsule for deep space, on top of a Delta IV Heavy in about three years or so.

So stay tuned, watch the Delta launch, think back to the Saturn program ... and, well, who knows.