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The last space shuttle flight ever will launch on May 31, 2010, US space agency NASA has announced.
NASA says Endeavour will be the last shuttle to go on a mission into space before the whole shuttle fleet is retired. The final mission will carry spare parts for the International Space Station, including communications equipment and shielding panels.
The next space shuttle mission, to the Hubble Space Telescope for one final service, is scheduled for October 8 this year.
Other space shuttle flights between then and retirement date are dedicated to the International Space Station, helping finish construction of the platform and stocking it with critical auxiliary components.
The biggest components remaining to be fitted to the station are the fourth, starboard "backbone" segment and the fourth set of solar arrays, which will be taken up by the shuttle Discovery on February 12 2009.
(c) NewsRoom 2008
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