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News Archive 2009: September and October
Ares 1-X test flight cleared for launch Tuesday morning
Senior NASA officials convened at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday and formally approved plans to launch a $445 million test flight of the next-generation Ares 1 rocket next week. FULL STORY IMAGES:VIEWS FROM PLAYALINDA BEACH
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NASA LEADERS CLEAR ARES 1-X FOR FLIGHT PLAY VIDEO:
GANTRY MOVED AWAY FOR SYSTEMS TEST PLAY VIDEO:
ROLLOUT IN FAST-FORWARD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF PAD ARRIVAL PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PAD'S STABILIZATION ARMS GRAB THE ROCKET PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ARES 1-X ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39B PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ROLLOUT FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ANIMATION OF THE ARES 1-X TEST FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE INSIDE ARES 1-X? PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
A LITTLE PUSHING AND SHOVING IN THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ARES 1-X ROCKET ASSEMBLY IN FAST-FORWARD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TWO LAUNCH CONTROL CENTERS WILL BE USED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
FAMED CONTROL ROOM HANDED TO ARES ROCKETS PLAY VIDEO:
VEHICLE STABILIZATION ARMS INSTALLED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PAD 39B'S NEW LIGHTNING TOWERS COMPLETED PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
Japan readies first mission to Venus for 2010 launch
Japan has christened its next deep space mission Akatsuki, meaning dawn in English, a half-year before the spacecraft is dispatched toward Venus to analyze the planet's smothering atmosphere. FULL STORY
Vega rocket tested as ESA maps out operations
Europe's small satellite launcher is on the home stretch of its protracted development, as engineers methodically check to ensure each of the Vega rocket's parts are qualified for flight. FULL STORY
Augustine panel reports on space program's future
Amid work to ready NASA's Ares 1-X rocket for a long-awaited test flight next week, a presidential panel charged with reviewing the nation's manned space program submitted its completed report Thursday, concluding NASA's planned shuttle replacement will cost too much and take too long to build to be a viable option. FULL STORY
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AUGUSTINE PRESENTS FINAL REPORT PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Astronauts loading trash inside Japanese freighter
Space station astronauts have finished unloading cargo from the Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle and are now packing trash inside the ship's pressurized compartment. The spacecraft is scheduled to depart the complex next Friday. MISSION STATUS CENTER
Scientists find organic molecules around planet
Peering far beyond our solar system, NASA researchers have detected the basic chemistry for life in a second hot gas planet, advancing astronomers toward the goal of being able to characterize planets where life could exist. The planet is not habitable but it has the same chemistry that, if found around a rocky planet in the future, could indicate the presence of life. FULL STORY
Fudged titanium could threaten next Mars rover
An industry-wide concern over bad titanium could add more cost to the already over-budget $2.3 billion Mars Science Laboratory mission because engineers need to check the integrity of the metal used in the structure of the spacecraft. FULL STORY
Ares 1-X rocket arrives at launch pad for test flight
Following the same path as the mighty Saturn rockets and the space shuttles, the new Ares 1-X test vehicle trekked from Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39B Tuesday. Launch is scheduled for Oct. 27. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates and video! IMAGES:ARES 1-X EMERGES FROM VAB IMAGES:ROCKET ARRIVES AT PAD 39B
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SPACE SHUTTLE ROLLOUT IN FAST-FORWARD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW ARRIVES AT CAPE FOR TRAINING PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
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ATLAS 5 ROCKET LAUNCH DMSP F18 WEATHER SATELLITE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA looks to relieve space station traffic bottlenecks
In an attempt to alleviate tightly stacked space missions, managers are re-evaluating a long-standing policy banning other spacecraft from arriving or leaving the International Space Station while the space shuttle is docked to the complex. FULL STORY
Iran readies Safir launch with ICBM implications
U.S. reconnaissance spacecraft are watching Iran's Semnan launch site for evidence that Iran is readying launch of its second satellite on a Safir-2 booster. The mission to launch the Mesbah communications satellite is designed as much to test the long range ballistic missile capabilities of the booster as it is to perform a space mission. FULL STORY
Cargo ship arrives at the International Space Station
The International Space Station has received a new load of supplies from the latest Russian-built cargo freighter, which successfully docked to the outpost Saturday. FULL STORY
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PROGRESS 35P DOCKS WITH THE SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Europe looks to lighter, more nimble launcher
The replacement for the Ariane 5 rocket after 2020 will likely be smaller and less expensive to meet the needs of lighter European Space Agency missions, according to the head of the agency's launcher program. FULL STORY
Testing, reviews continue for grounded satellite
Earth-watching instruments have been removed from the grounded Deep Space Climate Observatory for engineering tests, another sign of life for a mission left for dead four years ago. FULL STORY
NASA spacecraft shows our place in the galaxy
The first all-sky maps from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) reveal intense, theory-defying interactions occurring between the edge of the Solar System and interstellar space. FULL STORY OUR IBEX LAUNCH COVERAGE
Latest freighter heads for International Space Station
Keeping the resupply line going to the International Space Station, the Russians have successfully launched their 35th routine but highly vital cargo-carrying spacecraft for the outpost in a magnificently beautiful ascent. FULL STORY
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SPACE SHUTTLE ASSEMBLY IN FAST-FORWARD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ATLANTIS TAKES PERCH ATOP PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ROLLOUT FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA retires 'queen' of tracking satellite fleet
More than a quarter-century after a hard-luck launch aboard the shuttle Challenger, the pioneer of NASA's constellation of tracking and communications satellites is being retired from service. FULL STORY
After delays, Russia set to add module to space station
Technicians in Kazakhstan are readying a new docking compartment and airlock for launch to the International Space Station next month, the first Russian addition to the complex in more than eight years. FULL STORY
Sky merger yields sparkling dividends in Hubble shot
This Hubble Space Telescope image captures what appears to be one very bright and bizarre galaxy, but is actually the result of a pair of spiral galaxies that resemble our own Milky Way smashing together at breakneck speeds. FULL STORY
Opportunity rover finds yet another Mars meteorite
In a remarkable discovery 126 million miles from Earth, the Mars rover Opportunity has found a second large iron meteorite sitting just a half mile from its twin sibling where they both landed on the Red Planet within seconds of each other three billion years ago. FULL STORY
Rest easy, Earthlings
A nearly 900-foot-wide asteroid that initially triggered fear it would hit Earth now has almost no chance of impacting the planet during three close encounters this century, NASA announced last week. FULL STORY
Space station crew sails to safe landing in Kazakhstan
The International Space Station's Russian commander, a NASA astronaut and a famous tourist have returned to Earth, touching down on the steppes of central Asia inside their parachute-equipped descent capsule at 12:32 a.m. EDT Sunday. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
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CREW EXITS THE CAPSULE AT LANDING SITE PLAY VIDEO:
HELICOPTER VIEW OF THE SOYUZ'S LANDING PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ CAPSULE UNDOCKS FROM SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Managers give approval to continue Ares 1-X preps
After reviewing the status of preparatory work inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, mission managers gave approval Friday to proceed toward rollout of the slender Ares 1-X test rocket on Oct. 19. FULL STORY
Lunar smash produces surprise, disappointment
A $79 million mission struck a lunar bullseye early Friday and collected a wealth of data to guide scientists seeking water on the moon, but the impact was a dud for observers hoping to catch a glimpse of space fireworks. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER PREVIEW STORY LRO/LCROSS VIDEO COVERAGE HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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RELIVE THE LCROSS IMPACT INTO THE MOON PLAY VIDEO:
POST-IMPACT PRESENTATION OF PICTURES AND INFO PLAY VIDEO:
LCROSS MISSION SUMMARY PLAY VIDEO:
LCROSS SCIENCE SUMMARY PLAY VIDEO:
THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE OF LCROSS PLAY MORE:LRO AND LCROSS VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO SUBSCRIBE NOW
Shuttle Atlantis to spend extra day in the VAB
Space shuttle Atlantis has been hooked up to its external tank and solid rocket boosters atop a mobile launching platform inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. But NASA has reassessed the schedule and delayed rollout to pad 39A until Wednesday morning. ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER STORE:STS-129 PATCH
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TIME-LAPSE OF ATLANTIS ATTACHED TO FUEL TANK PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
How will unique LCROSS mission find moon water?
An array of sensors stringing from the Earth to the moon will have four minutes to seek the tell-tale signature of lunar water when the $79 million LCROSS mission reaches its climactic conclusion early Friday. FULL STORY
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DELTA ROCKET LAUNCHES WORLDVIEW 2 PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLED BACK FROM ROCKET PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF WORLDVIEW 2'S LAUNCH PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Obama voices support for space funding, leadership
President Barack Obama signaled Wednesday that the White House will likely approve increased funding for NASA to carry out a new U.S. manned flight goal beyond Earth orbit, but he gave no hint about which of several options will be pursued. FULL STORY
Ares 1-X rocket breezes through key readiness test
The rocket NASA plans to launch later this month on a first-of-a-kind test flight has passed its final exam before trekking to the pad in less than two weeks. FULL STORY STORE:ARES 1-X PATCH
Crane issue delays shuttle Atlantis attachment to tank
After being moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Tuesday morning, shuttle Atlantis' planned late-night hoisting into position for attachment to its fuel tank and boosters was delayed while engineers assess an issue with the overhead crane. ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER ROLLOVER PHOTOS STORE:STS-129 PATCH
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ATLANTIS LEAVES HANGAR FOR NEXT LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF ATLANTIS ARRIVING IN VAB PLAY VIDEO:
CLOSING ATLANTIS' PAYLOAD BAY DOORS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
FUEL TANK ATTACHED TO SOLID ROCKETS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS MAKE A VISIT TO THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ORBITER DOCKING SYSTEM CHECKED OUT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ATLANTIS' FUEL TANK UNLOADED FROM BARGE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK ARRIVES AT THE LAUNCH SITE PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spitzer telescope discovers largest ring around Saturn
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around Saturn -- by far the largest of the giant planet's many rings. One of Saturn's farthest moons, Phoebe, circles within the newfound ring, and is likely the source of its material. FULL STORY
Space tracking satellite launch delayed indefinitely
The launch of a pathfinder space tracking satellite is on hold due to problems with equipment on its Minotaur 4 rocket, the Air Force said Monday in a written statement. FULL STORY
Combined Herschel images reveal hidden galaxy
The European Space Agency's new Herschel observatory has produced stunning new images of interstellar material and star-forming regions in our home galaxy by combining the observing power of its onboard cameras. FULL STORY
Sea Launch inching closer to recovery as it reviews plans
Sea Launch has identified several potential sources of financing to help the beleaguered launch provider recover from bankruptcy, assuming the company can follow a profitable business plan and hold on to its customer base. FULL STORY
Commercial and military craft share ride on Ariane 5
Continuing an enviable string of success, the Ariane 5 team flew its fifth rocket of the year Thursday night topped with a high performance Spanish broadcasting satellite and a secure German military communications craft. FULL STORY
Soyuz and three-man crew arrives at the space station
The Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft carrying cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, NASA flight engineer Jeffrey Williams and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte maneuvered to a smooth docking with the International Space Station early Friday to close out a two-day orbital chase. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
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DOCKING BRIEFING WITH U.S. AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS PLAY VIDEO:
ARRIVAL CEREMONY ABOARD THE SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
HATCHWAY OPENED BETWEEN STATION AND SOYUZ PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ CAPSULE DOCKS TO SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Mercury flyby hindered by unexplained power glitch
A NASA probe hit an interplanetary bullseye during its close flyby of Mercury on Tuesday, but the spacecraft unexpectedly went into safe mode during the encounter and did not achieve all of its science goals. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY
New crewmates and tourist launch to the space station
A Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off from Yuri Gagarin's launch pad in Kazakhstan Wednesday, carrying two fresh crew members and the founder of Cirque du Soleil on a voyage to the International Space Station. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
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FULL EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
CREW DEPARTS SITE 254 FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
VIPS MEET THE CREW ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY VIDEO:
CREW MEMBERS DON THEIR SOKOL SPACESUITS PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH MORNING TRADITIONS AT CREW QUARTERS PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Soyuz on the launch pad
The Russian Soyuz rocket that will launch the Expedition 21 crew to the International Space Station was transported from its assembly facility to the launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday morning. PHOTO GALLERY
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PREVIEW OF NEXT SIX MONTHS AT SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
POST-ROLLOUT COMMENTS FROM NASA OFFICIALS PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO BAIKONUR LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
ASSEMBLY OF SOYUZ ROCKET STAGES COMPLETED PLAY VIDEO:
HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S ACTIVITIES AT BAIKONUR PLAY VIDEO:
CELEBRATIONS MARK CREW'S DEPARTURE FROM STAR CITY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA faces hurdles to get launch date for next shuttle
Two upcoming satellite launches, a pair of meteor showers, multiple Russian missions and tight launch windows are causing potential headaches for NASA planners looking ahead to the next shuttle mission in November. FULL STORY
NASA probe has close encounter with Mercury
The MESSENGER probe rapidly flew past Mercury on Tuesday for a close encounter just 142 miles over its jagged surface, a maneuver that simultaneously served scientific goals and bent the spacecraft's trajectory for its 2011 return to the innermost planet. Closest approach occurred at 5:55 p.m. EDT, according to NASA. PREVIEW STORY
New impact site for LCROSS water-hunting mission
Officials have shifted the target for next week's smash into the moon by the LCROSS lunar impactor mission after a new analysis showed another crater has a better chance of yielding results verifying the existence of water at the south pole. FULL STORY
One month from crucial Ares rocket test launch
With one month left before NASA takes the new Ares 1 rocket on an early test run, a senior official says he is "pretty confident" engineers will be allowed to launch the booster despite swirling questions about the program's future. FULL STORY STORE:ARES 1-X PATCH
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FAMED CONTROL ROOM HANDED TO ARES ROCKETS PLAY VIDEO:
ANIMATION OF THE ARES 1-X TEST FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spectacular Delta 2 launch captured in photo gallery
Check out this collection of photographs taken during the Delta 2 rocket's Friday morning blastoff with the tandem STSS Demo satellites for the Missile Defense Agency. IMAGE GALLERY
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THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY VIDEO:
DELTA 2 ROCKET LAUNCHES STSS DEMO PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
STSS DEMO SATELLITES DEPLOYED PLAY VIDEO:
POST-LAUNCH BRIEFING WITH NASA AND MDA PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: CAPE CANAVERAL BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: WIDE VIEW FROM PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: TIGHT SHOT FROM PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: KSC DOAMS TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: UCS 23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD CAMERA NORTHEAST PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD CAMERA SOUTHWEST PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD CAMERA WEST PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF STSS DEMO PREPS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF DELTA 2'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO: PAD TOWER ROLLS BACK AROUND DELTA 2 AFTER SCRUB PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Station astronauts complete three days of robotics work
An empty pallet that delivered two Earth science experiments to the International Space Station was returned Friday to its housing inside a Japanese cargo ship. MISSION STATUS CENTER
SpaceX doubles down on inaugural Falcon 9 mission
SpaceX has announced the payload for the first Falcon 9 launch later this year will be a stripped-down version of the company's own Dragon capsule, a vehicle being developed to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. FULL STORY
Mars probe still mired in safe mode, science on hold
After four unexplained glitches aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter this year, the probe's science operations remain suspended as engineers investigate the mysterious string of problems. FULL STORY
Water ice detected in freshly dug craters on Mars
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hidden just below the surface of the red planet in fresh impact craters located about half-way between the north pole and the equator. FULL STORY
Scientists present new evidence of water on Moon
Data from the Indian Chandrayaan-1 Moon mission, supported with similar data collected during Deep Impact and Cassini flybys of the Moon, has provided unambiguous evidence of water locked up in the lunar soil, bringing dreams of a sustainable Moon base one step closer. FULL STORY
Juno probe on target for 2011 departure to Jupiter
NASA's Juno spacecraft, an energy-efficient probe now being built in Colorado, is less than two years from beginning its journey to map Jupiter in hopes of unlocking secrets about the enormous planet's ancient formation. FULL STORY
Ocean studies satellite launched by Indian rocket
A new spacecraft dedicated to studying the Earth's oceans was shot into orbit aboard an Indian rocket early Wednesday, marking the country's 20th successful satellite delivery mission. FULL STORY
Next month's Ares 1 test flight moved up four days
NASA has decided to move up the first test launch of its new Ares 1 rocket by four days to Oct. 27, the agency announced Tuesday. The flight will give engineers early data on the booster's aerodynamic characteristics. FULL STORY
PAN satellite finishes its climb to geostationary orbit
The mystery communications spacecraft launched aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral earlier this month -- and pictured in this story -- has arrived in a geostationary orbit that views the Middle East, hobbyist satellite trackers report. FULL STORY LAUNCH COVERAGE
Vivid vista shines light on center of the Milky Way
The European Southern Observatory has released the second of three new breath-taking portraits showing the Milky Way in unprecedented detail. FULL STORY
Cassini finds ring quirks during Saturn equinox
NASA scientists are marveling over the extent of ruffles and dust clouds revealed in the rings of Saturn during the planet's equinox last month. Scientists once thought the rings were almost completely flat, but new images reveal the heights of some newly discovered bumps in the rings are as high as the Rocky Mountains. FULL STORY
Welcome back, Discovery!
Space shuttle Discovery completed its ferryflight across the country Monday, reaching the Kennedy Space Center just after 12 noon EDT. The trek began at daybreak Sunday when the spacecraft departed Edwards Air Force Base in California atop the modified 747 carrier jet. The duo made refueling stops in Amarillo and Fort Worth, Texas, before heading to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for an overnight stay. MISSION STATUS CENTER IMAGES:DISCOVERY HOME AGAIN IMAGES:FERRYFLIGHT DEPARTS EDWARDS AFB IMAGES:DISCOVERY'S PREPS FOR FERRYFLIGHT MOVIES:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO MOVIES:STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO
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Joint Russian and Chinese mission to Mars slips to '11
Planetary mission sources say the Russian Space Agency will officially delay launch of its sample return mission to the Martian moon Phobos until 2011 because of delays with integration and test of the vehicle in time to make its originally planned October launch window. FULL STORY
Photo gallery: Japan's new resupply ship arrives
The Expedition crew living and working aboard the International Space Station took these dramatic photos of the Japanese cargo freighter arriving at the outpost for capture by the Canadian-built robotic arm. PHOTO GALLERY
Mars rover Spirit's fate weighed as options dwindle
The Mars rover Spirit engineering team trying to free the spacecraft from the sand trap that halted driving five months ago is becoming more realistic, if not pessimistic, about whether this marvel of the U.S. space program will ever rove again. FULL STORY
NASA names crew for final space shuttle mission
Chief astronaut Steven Lindsey, a veteran of four shuttle missions, will command an all-veteran six-member crew for the final planned space shuttle flight next year, NASA announced Friday. Peggy Whitson, a veteran space station commander, will take over as chief astronaut as the shuttle program winds down. FULL STORY
International Space Station welcomes Japanese visitor
In a precise orbital ballet more than 200 miles above the planet, a bus-sized Japanese cargo ship approached the International Space Station on Thursday and astronaut Nicole Stott plucked the satellite from space using the complex's robot arm. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
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HTV MANEUVERED INTO DOCKING PORT AND ATTACHED PLAY VIDEO:
ROBOTIC ARM REACHES OUT AND GRABS THE HTV PLAY VIDEO:
THE CARGO FREIGHTER APPROACHES THE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF THE HTV MISSION FROM START TO FINISH PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH AS SEEN FROM PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
WATCH THE FULL HTV LAUNCH BROADCAST PLAY VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF H-2B ROCKET AND HTV SPACECRAFT PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Successful satellite launch aims to boost DISH Network
A Canadian commercial communications satellite was shot into space from the famed Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday to serve customers across the United States who subscribe to the DISH Network. FULL STORY
NASA's new lunar mapper begins primary mission
After two months of checkout and calibration, NASA's $504 million Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was maneuvered into a circular 31-mile-high mapping orbit Tuesday and scientists said Thursday the spacecraft's instruments are delivering intriguing clues about the possible presence of water ice. FULL STORY
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EARLY RESULTS COMING BACK FROM LRO SPACECRAFT PLAY VIDEO:
LRO AND LCROSS LAUNCH ABOARD ATLAS 5 ROCKET PLAY VIDEO:
SPECTACULAR ONBOARD VIDEO CAMERA FOOTAGE PLAY VIDEO:
ONBOARD VIEW OF NOSE CONE JETTISON PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: VIEW FROM SHUTTLE PAD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER MISSION SUMMARY PLAY VIDEO:
LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER SCIENCE SUMMARY PLAY MORE:LRO AND LCROSS VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO SUBSCRIBE NOW
Soyuz rocket launches Russian weather satellite
A Russian Soyuz launched rocketed into space Thursday with an upgraded weather satellite and several other small payloads destined for a variety of missions. FULL STORY
Rocky exo-world breaks new records about planets
A small planet 500 light years away has been found to be the fastest moving planet known, whizzing around its star once every 20 hours. FULL STORY
Augustine testifies to Congress on space review
NASA's embattled Constellation moon program, thought by many to be on life support in the face of ongoing budget cuts, is technically feasible, "soundly" managed and capable of putting American astronauts back on the moon as planned in the 2020s, the chairman of a manned space review said Tuesday. FULL STORY
Japanese craft on course for space station linkup
Senior space station managers have approved plans for Japan's first cargo ship to make its final approach to the complex Thursday, confirming the new supply craft has performed well so far in its mission. MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
Lightning storm on Saturn breaks solar system record
A powerful lightning storm in Saturn's atmosphere that began in mid-January has become the Solar System's longest continuously observed thunderstorm. It broke the record duration set by another thunderstorm observed on Saturn by NASA's Cassini spacecraft a couple of years ago. FULL STORY
One more look back at shuttle Discovery's launch
Onboard rocket camera footage always dazzles and the video from shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank and solid boosters didn't disappoint. The inspiring views of the spacecraft rocketing toward orbit are presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users with launch audio.
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LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
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RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA FROM LIFTOFF TO SEPARATION PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LANDS IN CALIFORNIA PLAY VIDEO:
BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 1 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 2 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 3 PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA LOOKING OUT PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY VIDEO:
NASA AND ESA POST-LANDING BRIEFING PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Scientists pick bullseye for lunar impact mission
Scientists now know the final destination for NASA's water-seeking lunar impact probe, an eternally-dark depression called Cabeus A near the moon's south pole believed to harbor hidden ice. FULL STORY
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LCROSS TARGET PRESS CONFERENCE PLAY MORE:
FULL LCROSS VIDEO COLLECTION VIEW SUBSCRIBE NOW
Bad weather postpones shuttle landing to Friday
The Discovery astronauts were forced to pass up two landing opportunities Thursday because of dynamic, hard-to-predict weather at the Kennedy Space Center, delaying re-entry until Friday in hopes conditions will improve enough to permit a Florida landing. FULL STORY
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LAUNCH AS SEEN FROM PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
WATCH THE FULL HTV LAUNCH BROADCAST PLAY VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF H-2B ROCKET AND HTV SPACECRAFT PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
ATK test fires Ares 1 five-segment booster
With the future of NASA's embattled moon program in doubt, Alliant Techsystems test fired a huge five-segment solid-fuel booster in Utah Thursday, a ground-shaking demonstration designed to collect performance data for a new rocket intended to replace the space shuttle. FULL STORY
Crew gets Discovery ready for Thursday's landing
With flight controllers keeping tabs on threatening weather, the Discovery astronauts packed up Wednesday and tested the shuttle's re-entry systems in preparation for landing Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting, to close out a successful space station resupply mission. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. P (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF DISCOVERY'S RE-ENTRY EXPERIMENT PLAY VIDEO:
PRE-LANDING BRIEFING WITH ENTRY FLIGHT DIRECTOR PLAY VIDEO:
CREW INTERVIEWS WITH CBS, ABC AND CNN PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 12 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 11 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 10-P2 PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
New pictures show healthy Hubble is back in action
NASA scientists showed off spectacular new pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope Wednesday, a stunning gallery of remote galaxies, an enormous globular cluster packed with countless pinpoint stars and a dying sun blowing off its outer atmosphere in butterfly-like wings of debris. FULL STORY SEE THE IMAGES OUR SERVICING MISSION ARCHIVE
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SECRET PAN MISSION BEGINS PLAY VIDEO:
VIEW OF LAUNCH FROM NORTH OF COMPLEX 41 PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Augustine panel presents five manned space options
A presidential panel assessing U.S. manned space flight presented five options to the White House Tuesday, ranging from NASA's current plan to build outposts on the moon to a "flexible path" approach to explore a variety of targets in the inner solar system. FULL STORY
Shuttle Discovery undocks from the space station
With pilot Kevin Ford at the controls, the shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station on Tuesday after delivering a fresh crew member and more than 18,500 pounds of needed equipment and supplies. FULL STORY MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. O (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY EVENING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
DISCOVERY FLIES AROUND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Leonardo stowed as space crews say their farewells
The Discovery astronauts detached the Leonardo cargo module from the space station Monday and berthed it in the shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth. After a late-night farewell ceremony, hatches the shuttle and station were closed, setting the stage for undocking Tuesday. FULL STORY MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. L (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY EVENING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
FAREWELL BETWEEN SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS PLAY VIDEO:
LEONARDO MODULE RETURNED TO THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS ANSWER QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC PLAY VIDEO:
TELEMUNDO, TAMPA AND UNIVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
EL PASO AND AUSTIN TELEVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
JOSE HERNANDEZ LIVE INTERVIEWS FROM ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT EVENT PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 10 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 9 PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Can vaccine breakthrough help cure NASA's ills?
A vaccine to protect people against Salmonella, a deadly bacteria that often contaminates food processing operations, is headed for human testing following commercial development in zero gravity on the space shuttle and International Space Station. FULL STORY
Astronauts wrapping up supply transfers to station
Sailing into the home stretch of a busy space station resupply mission, the Discovery astronauts worked Sunday to wrap up equipment and supply transfers before enjoying a half day off to relax and enjoy the view. MORNING STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)
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Discovery astronauts finish mission's last spacewalk
Astronauts Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang took the mission's third and final spacewalk Saturday evening, a seven-hour excursion outside the International Space Station that deployed a payload mounting mechanism, replaced a failed circuit breaker and an orientation sensor, installed GPS antennas and routed long cables for a future module. SPACEWALK CONCLUDES ATTACHMENT MECHANISM DEPLOYED EVA NO. 3 BEGINS MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download)
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FUGLESANG'S HELMET-CAM COMES LOOSE PLAY VIDEO:
ROUTING AVONICS CABLES FOR TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
FAILED ORIENTATION SENSOR REMOVED PLAY VIDEO:
WORK TO DEPLOY PAYLOAD MECHANISM PLAY VIDEO:
EVA NO. 3 BEGINS PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 8 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 7 PLAY VIDEO:
INTERNATIONAL CREW NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
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Space shuttle main engine nozzle leaks being studied
Engineers are looking into what might have caused more than 300 microscopic leaks in the nozzle of a space shuttle main engine used to help launch Endeavour in July. But officials Friday characterized the issue as relatively minor, saying the leaks were well below any threshold that could cause an in-flight problem. FULL STORY
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: SPACEWALKERS COME BACK INSIDE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: MORE WORK WITH LEONARDO PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: OLIVAS AND FUGLESANG ON EVA PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
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Discovery crew getting some free time in orbit
The Discovery astronauts and their space station colleagues enjoyed a half-day off Friday, taking a break to relax and enjoy the view from 220 miles up after a grueling week in orbit resupplying the International Space Station. MORNING STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)
Spacewalkers install new coolant reservior on station
Astronauts Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang completed a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk Thursday evening to install a new 1,700-pound ammonia coolant tank in the International Space Station's truss backbone. A depleted tank, removed during a spacewalk Tuesday, was mounted in the shuttle Discovery's cargo bay for return to Earth and refurbishment. SPACEWALK A SUCCESS NEW TANK INSTALLED MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. H (.pdf download)
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: PREPPING FOR NEXT EVA PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: MOVING FROZEN SCIENCE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: EMPTYING OUT LEONARDO PLAY VIDEO:
POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
OLD TANK MOVED TO SHUTTLE FOR RECYCLING PLAY VIDEO:
NEW TANK HOOKED UP TO STATION UMBILICALS PLAY VIDEO:
CHRISTER FUGLESANG CARRIES NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO:
PREPS IN SHUTTLE BAY TO UNPACK NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO:
DANNY OLIVAS FLOATS OUT OF AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY VIDEO:
THURSDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
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Astronauts spend the day on equipment transfers
The Discovery astronauts focused on equipment transfers Wednesday, moving science racks and other gear into the International Space Station from a cargo module delivered by the shuttle. Flight controllers, meanwhile, studied the track of a derelict European rocket body to determine if an avoidance maneuver might be necessary. NASA SAYS AVOIDANCE MANEUVER UNLIKELY HEAT SHIELD CLEARED MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS CELEBRATE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: OLIVAS AND STOTT ON EVA NO. 1 PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: COLBERT TREADMILL UNPACKED PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS GET SUITED UP PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: LEONARDO MODULE OPENED PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: MOVING ITEMS FROM SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 5 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 4 PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: JOIN CREW IN DOCKING PLAY VIDEO:
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FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS PUT THIRD EXPERIMENT IN SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
BRIEFCASE-LIKE PACKAGE RETRIEVED FROM STATION PLAY VIDEO:
EUROPEAN PAYLOAD MOVED FROM STATION TO SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS FREE COOLANT TANK FROM TRUSS PLAY VIDEO:
DANNY OLIVAS DISCONNECTS OLD AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS EMERGE FROM AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY MORE:STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Current Shuttle Mission Patch The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Ares 1-X Patch The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Apollo Collage This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Project Orion The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon. U.S. STORE Fallen Heroes Patch Collection The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
U.S. STORE
The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.
This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
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NASA LEADERS CLEAR ARES 1-X FOR FLIGHT 
