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Atlantis shuttle launch to ISS delayed until November 18

RIA Novosti

11:36 20/10/2009 MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - NASA has delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida until November 16 to have more time to test its new rocket, the agency said.

"Senior managers met Monday and decided to adjust Atlantis' target launch date to optimize the agency's ability to launch both Ares I-X and Atlantis before the end of the year," NASA said on its website.

The Ares I-X rocket is scheduled for blastoff on October 27. It will be NASA's first flight test for the new launch vehicle, which is central to the agency's plans for human spaceflight after the shuttle fleet is retired. The same launch team supports the shuttle and the rocket launches.

Atlantis will deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. The 11-day flight envisions three spacewalks to stage spare components outside of the International Space Station.