Final flight: NASA names astronauts for last space shuttle voyage next year

Veteran crew named for final space shuttle flight

WASHINGTON — NASA’s chief astronaut will shut off the lights on America’s space shuttle program.

NASA announced Friday the crew for the last scheduled space shuttle mission, targeted for next September. It will be on the space shuttle Discovery and bring equipment to the international space station.

NASA chief astronaut Steven Lindsey will command the flight. The commander is traditionally the last one off the shuttle when it returns to Earth. Lindsey has flown four times before.

The veteran crew includes pilot Eric Boe (BOH), Benjamin Drew, Timothy Kopra (KOH’-prah), Michael Barratt, and Nicole Stott.

Shuttles have flown 128 times since 1982. Six flights remain.

NASA is building a prototype replacement rocket, but may rethink its plans.

On the Net

NASA: www.nasa.gov/shuttle