NASA delays shuttle Endeavour launch to April 29

NASA on Monday said it will delay the shuttle Endeavour's launch by 10 days, setting a new date for April 29 to avoid a conflict with a Russian capsule's arrival at the International Space Station.

The new launch time is tentatively set for 3:47 pm (1947 GMT) on Friday, April 29.

"The delay removes a scheduling conflict with a Russian Progress supply vehicle scheduled to launch April 27 and arrive at the station April 29," NASA said in a statement.

NASA managers will convene to discuss flight readiness on April 19, the date the shuttle was initially set to fly, and will officially choose the launch date at the end of the meeting.

Discovery became the first of the three-member US shuttle fleet to retire after its last mission to the ISS ended in March.

Atlantis is set for its final mission in June, marking the end of the US space shuttle program after 30 years.

(c) 2011 AFP