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After these the shuttle is to be retired.After that NASA will have to select a replacement craft to handle ISS flights until their next ship, Orion, is ready in 2015/2016. Soyuz is out both because of acts of Congress (funding cut) and its recent troubles.
Many expect the 2010-2015/16 missions to be handled to SpaceX's Dragon, which is designed to carry 7 passengers in crew mode and also be convertible into a robotic cargo hauler. Dragon's first unmanned flight is scheduled for early Q1 2009.
Oct. 8, 2008 -- Atlantis (STS-125) will launch on the final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Nov. 10, 2008 -- Endeavour (STS-126 / ULF-2) will supply the space station and service both Solar Alpha Rotary Joints on the port and starboard end of its truss backbone that supports equipment and solar arrays during the 15-day mission.
Feb. 12, 2009 -- Discovery (STS-119 / 15A) will kick off a five-flight 2009 with its 36th mission to deliver the final pair of U.S. solar arrays to be installed on the starboard end of the station's truss. The truss serves as the backbone support for external equipment and spare components, including the Mobile Base System.
May 15, 2009 -- Endeavour (STS-127 / 2JA) sets sail on its 23rd mission with the Japanese Kibo Laboratory's Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section, the final permanent components of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's contribution to the station program. 5 spacewalks.
July 30, 2009 -- Atlantis (STS-128 / 17A) launches on its 31st flight, an 11-day mission carrying science and storage racks to the station. In the payload bay will be a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module holding science and storage racks. 3 spacewalks.
Oct. 15, 2009 -- Discovery's (STS-129 / ULF-3) 37th mission will focus on staging spare components outside the station. At least 3 spacewalks.
Dec. 10, 2009 -- Endeavour (STS-130 / 20A) will close 2009 with its 24th mission to deliver the final connecting node, Node 3, and the Cupola, a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that provides a 360-degree view around the station. At least 3 spacewalks.
Feb. 11, 2010 -- Atlantis (STS-131 / 19A) begins its 32nd mission as the first flight in 2010, carrying a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science racks that will be transferred to laboratories of the station. At least 3 spacewalks. Atlantis' last flight.
April 8, 2010 -- Discovery's (STS-132 / ULF-4) 38th mission will carry an integrated cargo carrier to deliver maintenance and assembly hardware, including spare parts for space station systems. In addition, the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, a Mini Research Module, will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the Zarya module. The Russian module also will carry U.S. pressurized cargo. The first Russian Mini Research Module to go to the station is scheduled to launch on a Russian rocket in the summer of 2009. At least 3 spacewalks. Discovery's last flight.
May 31, 2010 -- Endeavour's (STS-133 / ULF-5) 25th mission will carry critical spare components that will be placed on the outside of the station. Those will include two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields. At least 3 spacewalks. Endeavour's last flight.
Many expect the 2010-2015/16 missions to be handled to SpaceX's Dragon, which is designed to carry 7 passengers in crew mode and also be convertible into a robotic cargo hauler. Dragon's first unmanned flight is scheduled for early Q1 2009.
Oct. 8, 2008 -- Atlantis (STS-125) will launch on the final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Nov. 10, 2008 -- Endeavour (STS-126 / ULF-2) will supply the space station and service both Solar Alpha Rotary Joints on the port and starboard end of its truss backbone that supports equipment and solar arrays during the 15-day mission.
Feb. 12, 2009 -- Discovery (STS-119 / 15A) will kick off a five-flight 2009 with its 36th mission to deliver the final pair of U.S. solar arrays to be installed on the starboard end of the station's truss. The truss serves as the backbone support for external equipment and spare components, including the Mobile Base System.
May 15, 2009 -- Endeavour (STS-127 / 2JA) sets sail on its 23rd mission with the Japanese Kibo Laboratory's Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section, the final permanent components of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's contribution to the station program. 5 spacewalks.
July 30, 2009 -- Atlantis (STS-128 / 17A) launches on its 31st flight, an 11-day mission carrying science and storage racks to the station. In the payload bay will be a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module holding science and storage racks. 3 spacewalks.
Oct. 15, 2009 -- Discovery's (STS-129 / ULF-3) 37th mission will focus on staging spare components outside the station. At least 3 spacewalks.
Dec. 10, 2009 -- Endeavour (STS-130 / 20A) will close 2009 with its 24th mission to deliver the final connecting node, Node 3, and the Cupola, a robotic control station with six windows around its sides and another in the center that provides a 360-degree view around the station. At least 3 spacewalks.
Feb. 11, 2010 -- Atlantis (STS-131 / 19A) begins its 32nd mission as the first flight in 2010, carrying a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module filled with science racks that will be transferred to laboratories of the station. At least 3 spacewalks. Atlantis' last flight.
April 8, 2010 -- Discovery's (STS-132 / ULF-4) 38th mission will carry an integrated cargo carrier to deliver maintenance and assembly hardware, including spare parts for space station systems. In addition, the second in a series of new pressurized components for Russia, a Mini Research Module, will be permanently attached to the bottom port of the Zarya module. The Russian module also will carry U.S. pressurized cargo. The first Russian Mini Research Module to go to the station is scheduled to launch on a Russian rocket in the summer of 2009. At least 3 spacewalks. Discovery's last flight.
May 31, 2010 -- Endeavour's (STS-133 / ULF-5) 25th mission will carry critical spare components that will be placed on the outside of the station. Those will include two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields. At least 3 spacewalks. Endeavour's last flight.