On 16th November 2009, NASA would be sending another Atlantis mission to dock with the International Space Station – this shuttle mission would carry six astronauts who would be required to perform certain tasks like three spacewalks to store hardware on the exterior of the orbiting outpost. The mission would be of 11 days duration and would be the last one to be scheduled for 2009. Another five more are on the anvils for 2010 after which the fleet would be retired. However, if the authorities approve, the retirement could be postponed till such time the Americans develop the Orion capsules as an alternative to the Russian’s Soyuz which are currently being utilized.