NASA delays end of space shuttle program to 2011

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL The space agency made it official Thursday after weeks of hints of launch delays. Managers agreed to postpone the next-to-last shuttle launch until Nov. 1. Discovery had been scheduled to fly to the International Space Station in September.

The very last mission now has a Feb. 26 launch date. Endeavour will close out the shuttle program by delivering a major scientific instrument to the space station.

NASA says it needs more time to prepare the cargo for those two flights.

As for the possibility of an extra shuttle mission, NASA says no decision is expected before August. NASA would like to fly Atlantis one more time before the fleet is retired.