Space shuttle Atlantis will embark on the final repair and maintenance mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on October 8, instead of the end of August as planned, NASA announced Thursday.

The US space agency also fixed November 10 as the date for the launch of the shuttle Endeavour for a supply trip to the International Space Station. Its original launch date was October 16.

Atlantis' flight was put back following a delay in the delivery of components, including external fuel tanks.

NASA also wanted to prepare Endeavour for a possible rescue mission should anything go wrong with Atlantis and its seven astronauts.

If everything goes as planned, NASA will have carried out five shuttle launches in 2008, and it has several more scheduled for next year.

Shuttle Discovery will head back to the ISS with the next section of Japan's Kibo laboratory on May 31, and a further ten launches are planned before all three shuttles are taken out of operation on September 30, 2010.

Seven flights are needed to complete the ISS and two to deliver fuel and spare parts to ensure the maintenance of the space station in the future, after the shuttles are grounded for good.