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News Archive 2010: January and February
Feb. 26: On this edition of "This Week in Space" – the NASA Administrator hits some Congressional turbulence over NASA's new budget, shuttles Endeavour and Discovery are on the move, new pics of ice geysers on one of Saturn's moons, Orbital Sciences says its safety first for its new commercial spaceship, astro-immigrants are spotted in the Milky Way, and our own Miles O'Brien testifies to the Senate on NASA's future.
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Falcon countdown dress rehearsal a 'great success'
Taking advantage of a picturesque day in the Sunshine State, the privately-developed Falcon 9 rocket came to life Friday afternoon as engineers loaded 75,000 gallons of propellant aboard the vehicle during a simulated countdown.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
A final look back at the last shuttle booster test-firing
History was made in Utah this week with the final ground test-firing of a space shuttle solid rocket booster. Here's our wrap-up photo gallery from Thursday. SEE PHOTO COLLECTION
Thundering success for last shuttle booster ground test
The frigid snow-covered ground of northern Utah shook for two minutes Thursday, a reminder of the area's lasting legacy in developing the powerful solid rockets that have launched space shuttles skyward for three decades. FULL STORY IMAGES:SOLID MOTOR TEST FIRING IMAGES:AFTERMATH OF MOTOR TEST IMAGES:BOOSTER PREPPED FOR TEST
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FINAL SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER TEST FIRING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Air Force X-37B spaceplane arrives in Florida for launch
A secretive military spacecraft resembling a small space shuttle orbiter flew to Florida in the belly of a cargo plane this week to undergo final processing for its April 19 liftoff on an Atlas 5 rocket. FULL STORY
Congress fires back against contentious NASA budget
Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida lawmaker and former space shuttle flier, renewed a call for President Obama to set clear priorities for NASA on Wednesday as members of a Senate subcommittee sounded off on the space agency's controversial new budget. FULL STORY WATCH HEARING ON YOUTUBE MILES O'BRIEN TESTIMONY
ICESat mission complete after seven years in orbit
NASA has stopped trying to restart the primary laser instrument on the ICESat spacecraft, and the seven-year ice-mapping mission has been declared complete, the agency announced Wednesday. FULL STORY
Safety approvals pacing Falcon 9 rocket launch date
Before a new launch vehicle is cleared for liftoff from Cape Canaveral, federal regulators and Air Force officials meticulously go over the rocket's safety systems to verify the mission will pose no danger to the public. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
Discovery goes airborne inside assembly building
Before the shuttle Discovery can meet up with its fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, massive cranes must muscle the 100-ton spaceplane high into the Vehicle Assembly Building. Spaceflight Now was there to capture the moment in these spectacular photo galleries. IMAGES:DISCOVERY LIFTED INSIDE VAB IMAGES:SHUTTLE GOES VERTICAL
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DISCOVERY MOVES TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA sets timetables for engine and demonstrators
NASA hopes to begin flying flagship-class space technology demonstration missions by 2014 and develop a powerful new hydrocarbon first stage engine for a heavy-lift rocket by 2020, according to budget documents released Monday. FULL STORY
NASA releases details of commercial crew program
NASA will attempt to stimulate a portfolio of private transportation providers in its commercial crew program, striking a balance between emerging and established space companies, according to new agency plans released Monday. FULL STORY
Endeavour beats weather and lands on schedule
The space shuttle Endeavour returned home safely Sunday from its two-week mission that brought Tranquility to the International Space Station, a utility room to house air and water recycling systems, exercise equipment and seven windows on the world. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER IMAGES:LANDING PHOTO GALLERY SPACE STATION COMPUTER GLITCHES
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SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR SAFELY LANDS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY SOUTH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: EDGE OF RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY MID-FIELD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: EAST SIDE OF RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: INFRARED TRACKING CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
CREW WALKS AROUND SHUTTLE ON RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
POST-LANDING COMMENTS FROM THE CREW PLAY | HI-DEF MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
This Week In Space
Feb. 19: The International Space Station gets a room with a view like no other - many wish NASA had as clear a view of what is next in space. "This Week in Space" talks to the exiled president of the "Constellation Nation" – former NASA boss Mike Griffin – who equates the Obama decision to Richard Nixon's cancellation of Apollo – only worse. And we hear from a leading space entrepreneur – Eric Anderson of Space Adventures - who says the Obama plan is "brilliant... a masterstroke of U.S. space policy."
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Falcon 9 rocket will spend next week at launch pad
SpaceX hoisted the first Falcon 9 rocket atop its Cape Canaveral launch pad on Saturday, beginning several days of compatibility checks to be punctuated by a dramatic ground-shaking engine test next week. FULL STORY PHOTOS:FALCON 9 ON LAUNCH PAD
Weather outlook not positive for shuttle landing
Entry Flight Director Norm Knight expects a "very difficult weather day" for the shuttle Endeavour's planned landing Sunday night at the Kennedy Space Center, with low clouds and showers in the vicinity.
FULL STORY LANDING SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT
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SATURDAY AFTERNOON'S MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 1 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 3 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 4 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 5 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 6 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 7 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 8 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 9 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 10 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 11 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 12 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 13 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW HOME MOVIES: FLIGHT DAY 14 PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Shuttle Endeavour departs International Space Station
The shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station Friday, leaving a new habitation module and observation deck behind that virtually complete the U.S. segment of the lab complex after more than 11 years of construction.
FULL STORY WEATHER IFFY FOR LANDING UNDOCKING PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. M (.pdf download) STS-130 FLIGHT PLAN
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FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
STUNNING TIME-LAPSE OF STATION FLYAROUND PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
VIEWS OF ENDEAVOUR DURING THE FLYAROUND PLAY VIDEO:
VIEWS OF THE SPACE STATION DURING FLYAROUND PLAY VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR UNDOCKS FROM THE SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 13 ACTIVITIES PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Crew praises 'phenomenal' view from station's cupola
Space station commander Jeffrey Williams and George Zamka, commander of the shuttle Endeavour, cut a ceremonial red ribbon late Thursday and declared the new cupola observation deck "open for business."
FULL STORY EARLIER STORY
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FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS BID THEIR FAREWELLS PLAY VIDEO:
RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR STATION'S CUPOLA PLAY VIDEO:
IN-FLIGHT CREW NEWS CONFERENCE FOR U.S AND JAPAN PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Rocket trouble delays launch of ESA's ice mission
A European satellite built to monitor trends in polar ice will be grounded for up to a week because of an issue with the steering system on its Dnepr launcher. Liftoff was scheduled for Feb. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. FULL STORY
Apparent urine leak in station's recycling system
The Endeavour astronauts bid their space station colleagues farewell early Friday, sharing hugs and handshakes before returning to the shuttle and closing hatches in preparation for undocking Friday evening. Space station engineers, meanwhile, are troubleshooting an apparent urine leak in the lab's water recycling system.
FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. L (.pdf download)
Orbital sees bright future for Orion abort system
The escape rocket that would shoot astronauts to safety from a failing spacecraft in the now-defunct Constellation program could be reborn in future commercial space vehicles, according to the head of Orbital Sciences Corp. FULL STORY
Eutelsat swaps rockets for satellite launch this summer
Eutelsat is switching a communications satellite launch this summer from a Chinese booster to the Ariane 5 rocket, citing international trade regulations and consequences from an earthquake in Italy last year. FULL STORY
Obama places phone call to space station astronauts
Speaking about NASA for the first time since announcing sweeping changes to the space program, President Obama said his commitment to NASA is "unwavering" and promoted the agency's new focus on research and development. FULL STORY RACKS MOVED INTO TRANQUILITY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
THURSDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
OXYGEN GENERATOR RELOCATED TO TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
STATION'S TOILET INSTALLED IN THE NEW MODULE PLAY VIDEO:
WATER GENERATING EQUIPMENT MOVED INTO TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Cupola windows unwrapped on mission's last spacewalk
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick completed their third and final spacewalk Tuesday night, activating another ammonia coolant loop for the space station's new Tranquility module and removing the coverings on the seven-window observation deck. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download)
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DAZZLING VIEWS FROM INSIDE CUPOLA PLAY VIDEO:
CUPOLA WINDOW SHUTTERS ARE TESTED PLAY VIDEO:
STATION ASTRONAUT'S CAMCORDER VIEWS OF CUPOLA PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
CUPOLA OPEN FOR VIEWING PLAY VIDEO:
FREEING THE SHUTTERS PLAY VIDEO:
CUPOLA IS UNVEILED! PLAY VIDEO:
FIRST HALF OF CUPOLA UNCOVERED PLAY VIDEO:
WIRING UP DOCKING ADAPTER ON TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
ACTIVATING TRANQUILITY'S OTHER COOLING LOOP PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS FLOAT OUT OF AIRLOCK PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 10 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA offers taste of images from infrared telescope
Splashed with vivid colors resembling abstract art pieces, four infrared snapshots from the WISE telescope show a streaking comet, the heart of a stellar nursery, and galaxies in the distant universe. FULL STORY
Next shuttle launch slips a couple of weeks to April 5
Launch of shuttle Discovery on the next mission to the International Space Station will slip from March 18 to April 5 because of an unusual cold snap in Florida that has delayed processing and to avoid having a shuttle at the lab when the next Russian Soyuz crew transport arrives. FULL STORY STORE:STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)
ULA considers medium-lift launch market strategies
United Launch Alliance is taking a wait-and-see approach in deciding how to pursue the medium-class launch market after it phases out the stalwart Delta 2 rocket family. FULL STORY ATLAS LAUNCH ARCHIVE DELTA LAUNCH ARCHIVE
Ride along with Endeavour!
No matter how many times the space shuttle flies, the launches remain extraordinary experiences for the world to witness. A special collection of Endeavour launch videos captured from external cameras and views inside the crew module during ascent is presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users with launch audio.
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FLY WITH THE ASTRONAUTS IN THE COCKPIT PLAY VIDEO:
LOOKING OUT THE PILOT'S FRONT WINDOW PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
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-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Astronauts shuffle location of station docking adapter
Astronauts operating the space station's robot arm Monday moved a pressurized docking port from a temporary storage location on top of the space station's forward Harmony module to the recently vacated outboard port on the new Tranquility habitation module.
FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)
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TUESDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
DOCKING ADAPTER PLACED ONTO TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 9 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
This Week In Space
Feb. 12: Aftershocks from the Obama Administration's budget bombshell, Endeavour delivers "windows on the world" and the week's other news. You also can subscribe to watch episodes from iTunes.
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Cold weather may push Discovery launch into April
The shuttle Discovery will spend another week inside its processing hangar at Kennedy Space Center due to cold temperatures in Florida, likely forcing a launch delay until early April. FULL STORY
Space station's new bay window bolted into place
The seven-windowed cupola was moved from its temporary launch location on the outer port of Tranquility to the Earth-facing side of the module Monday, becoming the International Space Station's new observation portal on the cosmos.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. H (.pdf download)
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NEW YORK, ST. LOUIS AND MEMPHIS MEDIA INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
OBSERVATION PORTAL RELOCATED TO NEW HOME PLAY VIDEO:
CUPOLA PLUCKED FROM OUTBOARD PORT PLAY VIDEO:
ROBOTIC ARM GRAPPLES CUPOLA PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S EDUCATIONAL EVENT PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 8 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY AFTERNOON'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spirit rover buttons down for harsh winter on Mars
The Spirit rover will spend the upcoming Martian winter in an unfavorable orientation tilted away from the sun, limiting its power production and likely ensuring the robotic explorer will be out of contact with Earth for up to six months. FULL STORY
Spacewalking plumbers make Tranquility cooler
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick took a six-hour spacewalk Saturday night to hook up ammonia coolant lines between the new Tranquility module and the International Space Station. Mission managers, meanwhile, have approved a one-day extension to Endeavour's flight to give the astronauts more time to move life support system racks and exercise gear into the new module. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. F (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
PREPPING CUPOLA'S NEW HOME PORT PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS COMPLETE OTHER OUTFITTING WORK PLAY VIDEO:
AMMONIA BEGINS FLOWING TO COOL TRANQUILITY PLAY VIDEO:
PATRICK'S SPACESUIT CONTAMINATION CHECKS PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS INSTALL SECOND COOLANT LOOP PLAY VIDEO:
FIRST SET OF AMMONIA LINES HOOKED UP PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 7 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Iran unveils new space rocket and satellite designs
Iran has revealed the development of a new Simorgh space booster and three new satellites, including an imaging spacecraft that may provide Iran with a rudimentary space reconnaissance capability. FULL STORY
Proton looks at Ariane-led dual launch market
International Launch Services announced this week it will place a commercial European-owned, U.S.-built satellite on the same Proton rocket as a Russian-built payload in 2011, potentially making the workhorse booster more competitive with the market-leading Ariane 5 launcher. FULL STORY
Astronauts throw open door to station's new room
The combined crews of the shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station worked overnight Friday outfitting the new Tranquility module and preparing it for activation during a spacewalk Saturday night to connect ammonia coolant lines. FULL STORY
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FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
OPENING CUPOLA'S HATCHWAY BRIEFLY PLAY VIDEO:
ENTERING TRANQUILITY FOR FIRST TIME PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS ANSWER TWITTER QUESTIONS PLAY VIDEO:
ASSOCIATED PRESS, CBS AND REUTERS MEDIA INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 6 ACTIVITIES PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Shuttle heat shield cleared; crew to open new module
The shuttle Endeavour's heat shield - the protective tiles on the ship's belly and the critical carbon composite nose cap and wing leading edge panels - has been cleared for re-entry after a detailed analysis of post-launch imagery and sensor data, NASA officials said Friday. FULL STORY
International Space Station receives its Tranquility
The new Tranquility module became part of the International Space Station at 1:20 a.m. EST Friday, giving the orbiting outpost a new utility room and gym with a grand window on the world. Spacewalkers Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick prepped the module for removal from the shuttle payload bay and then worked to install umbilicals after it was attached to the station.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. E (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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ATLAS 5 ROCKET BLASTS OFF! HI-DEF VIDEO:
SPACEFLIGHT NOW'S VIEW OF THE LAUNCH HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: MOUND AT SPACE SHUTTLE PAD HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: SPOT WEST OF COMPLEX 41 HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: NORTH BEACH TRACKER HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: TOWER AT PAD 39AHI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: UCS 15 TRACKER HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: UCS 23 TRACKER HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: BANANA CREEK HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD CAMERA SOUTH PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD CAMERA EAST PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: PAD UMBILICALS PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: UCS 12 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAYS: VIF CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
WINDS SCRUB FIRST LAUNCH ATTEMPT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF SDO'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF ROCKET'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ATLAS 5 ROCKET ROLLS TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Proton rocket launches satellite for Latin America
A Proton rocket blasted off in frigid subzero weather late Thursday and successfully delivered a direct broadcasting satellite into orbit for Latin America nearly 10 hours later.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY
Astronauts work on urine processor repairs
The Endeavour astronauts worked through a light day in orbit Wednesday, preparing for a spacewalk overnight Thursday, the first of three to attach and outfit a new habitation module, and looking forward to a bit of off-duty time.
MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates and video! FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download)
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FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SACRAMENTO, MOBILE AND ST. LOUIS MEDIA INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON'S MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 4 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Endeavour makes midnight arrival at space station
Space shuttle Endeavour has arrived at the International Space Station to build a new utility room and bay window on the outpost. Docking occurred precisely ontime at 12:06 a.m. EST.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. C (.pdf download)
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WEDNESDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY VIDEO:
HATCHWAY OPENED BETWEEN TWO SPACECRAFT PLAY VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE FLIES OUT IN FRONT OF STATION PLAY VIDEO:
ENDEAVOUR PERFORMS 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY VIDEO:
STUNNING SHOT OF SHUTTLE AGAINST HORIZON PLAY VIDEO:
STATION'S VIEW OF SHUTTLE ENGINE FIRING PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 3 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY AFTERNOON'S MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Astronauts give Endeavour full post-launch inspection
The Endeavour astronauts worked through a busy first day in space early Tuesday, performing a lengthy inspection of the shuttle's heat shield amid work to prepare for rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station late Tuesday.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY
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AMAZING LAUNCH FOOTAGE FROM COCKPIT CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF WING INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO:
INSPECTION BOOM READIED FOR USE PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED TOUR OF ENDEAVOUR'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO:
PAYLOAD BAY DOORS OPENED FOLLOWING LAUNCH PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
GO BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL PLAY VIDEO:
JETTISONED EXTERNAL FUEL TANK TUMBLES AWAY PLAY VIDEO:
CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS BOARD THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: BANANA CREEK SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Bolden: Florida should be home of private spaceflight
Speaking to reporters at Kennedy Space Center this weekend, NASA chief Charles Bolden said he will try to lure potential operators of commercial space taxis to use processing and launch facilities at Cape Canaveral.
FULL STORY
Cloudy weather postpones Endeavour launch 24 hours
Low clouds hanging over the Kennedy Space Center prevented the space shuttle Endeavour from launching today on its mission to the International Space Station. Another try will come Monday at 4:14 a.m. EST (0914 GMT).
SCRUB STORY PHOTOS:GANTRY ROLLBACK NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. 0 (.pdf download)
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EXPLANATION OF WEATHER PROBLEMS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LOW CLOUDS SCRUB FIRST COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS DEPART QUARTERS FOR PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW GETS SUITED UP FOR LAUNCH ATTEMPT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PAD SERVICE GANTRY RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TIME-LAPSE OF MOBILE TOWER ROLLBACK PLAY MORE:STS-130 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Shuttle mission to build another room on the station
Reeling from a morale-sapping change of course, engineers are readying Endeavour for launch Sunday on NASA's final five shuttle missions, a three-spacewalk flight to attach a 15-ton crew module to the International Space Station.
DETAILED MISSION PREVIEW STORY
Bolden meets the press on eve of Endeavour's launch
NASA is not abandoning efforts to develop a new heavy lift booster in the wake of the Obama administration's decision to cancel NASA's moon program, agency Administrator Charles Bolden said Saturday. But he added that any such rocket, even one using subsystems planned for the canceled Ares 5, is unlikely to fly before the 2020s at best, implying U.S. manned missions beyond low-Earth orbit are one to two decades away. FULL STORY
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Come see a space shuttle launch before time runs out
Endeavour's predawn blastoff Sunday begins the final countdown to retirement of the storied spaceships this year, leaving only a few opportunities left to see a shuttle launch in person. FULL STORY
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INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER GEORGE ZAMKA PLAY VIDEO:
INTERVIEW WITH PILOT TERRY VIRTS PLAY VIDEO:
INTERVIEW WITH MISSION SPECIALIST 1 KAY HIRE PLAY VIDEO:
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Latest NASA crossroads is familiar territory for space
President Barack Obama's cancellation of NASA's plan to renew manned lunar missions, the completion of major assembly milestones on the International Space Station and the imminent termination of the shuttle flights form a nexus from which to view a previous space juncture that also had profound implications for the U.S. space program. FULL STORY
Space station receives latest Russian resupply ship
A Russian cargo freighter flying on autopilot performed a successful rendezvous and docking with the space station Thursday night, delivering two-and-a-half tons of supplies and equipment for the international outpost and its resident crew. FULL STORY
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This Week In Space
Feb. 3: Miles O'Brien hosts a special edition of "This Week In Space" with a detailed look at President Obama's sweeping changes for the U.S. human spaceflight program. You also can subscribe for free to watch episodes from iTunes.
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Crew got inspiration from space shuttle moments
From seeing the space shuttle ride piggyback atop a 747 jet as a little boy to witnessing a launch for the first time, the Endeavour astronauts cherish special memories of the past as they get ready to soar Sunday morning.
FULL STORY
Cassini gets another extended mission until 2017
The robotic Cassini explorer circling Saturn was granted a mission extension until 2017 on Wednesday, as NASA engineers and scientists plot a daring end to the $3 billion mission that will take the spacecraft inside of the planet's famous rings. FULL STORY
Clocks now ticking for Sunday's shuttle launch
The three-day countdown sequence began as scheduled overnight for Sunday's launch of the shuttle Endeavour on a construction mission to attach the Tranquility module and cupola to the International Space Station.
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Earth science, deep space probes get budget boost
NASA's new proposed budget includes $5 billion for science, bolstering the agency's fleet of Earth science missions and restarting production of plutonium to power robotic probes to the outer solar system. FULL STORY
Kennedy Space Center hit hard by new NASA vision
The director of the Kennedy Space Center said Tuesday the spaceport's two launch pads, mammoth Vehicle Assembly Building and other one-of-a-kind facilities will be upgraded and made available to private space companies after the space shuttle's retirement. FULL STORY
Endeavour crew sees place in history for the shuttles
With just five space shuttle missions left to fly, the astronauts who will launch aboard Endeavour this weekend are sharing their thoughts on the venerable spaceplanes that'll soon be history. FULL STORY
Shuttle astronauts arrive at the Cape for launch
Ready to begin counting down to their blastoff aboard the space shuttle Endeavour this weekend, the six astronauts traveled from the Houston training base to the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday night.
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Latest freighter heads for International Space Station
Before space shuttle Endeavour reaches the International Space Station, the outpost will receive an unmanned cargo-delivery freighter that successfully launched atop a Russian Soyuz rocket Tuesday night. FULL STORY
NASA, White House still working on new space plan
NASA and senior White House officials are still tweaking the new U.S. space policy unveiled Monday, and it could be months before the agency can announce a definitive plan for procuring commercial rockets and space capsules for human voyages to low Earth orbit. FULL STORY
Obama kills moon program, endorses commercial space
On the seventh anniversary of the 2003 Columbia disaster, the Obama administration unveiled a sweeping change of course for the nation's civilian space program Monday, killing NASA's post-Columbia moon program and shifting development and operation of new rockets and capsules from the government to private industry. FULL STORY EARLIER STORY NASA ADMINISTRATOR STATEMENT (.pdf download)
NASA assigns stimulus funds to space ventures
NASA awarded $50 million in stimulus money to five companies Monday, a small sum of seed money but a critical first step in the agency's new capacity as a supporter of commercial human spaceflight. FULL STORY
Budget slashes NPOESS weather satellite program
The White House is proposing major changes of the U.S. government's troubled next-generation weather satellites, cutting the NPOESS program in half and directing NOAA and the Air Force to continue developing their own weather observatories. FULL STORY
This Week In Space
"This Week In Space" for Jan. 29: Obama rocks the space community with new marching orders for NASA that don't include a return to the moon, Lockheed Martin's John Karas dissects why building rockets and spacecraft is such a hard business and Mars rover leader Steve Squyres talks about the future of Spirit. You also can subscribe for free to watch episodes from iTunes.
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A pivotal year for expected space station life extension
The future of the International Space Station will have to be decided this year to order new parts and supply ships in time to support an extension of the orbiting lab project through 2020, according to senior space officials. FULL STORY
First Falcon 9 rocket now coming together at the Cape
All the pieces of the first Falcon 9 rocket due to launch between March and May have been trucked into Cape Canaveral, leaving just a handful of final tasks and closeouts before the booster is lifted atop the pad for tanking and engine tests. FULL STORY PHOTOS:FALCON 9 INSIDE HANGAR
Obama's NASA facelift faces tough fight in Congress
Although specifics of President Obama's NASA budget won't be released until Monday, a bipartisan group of legislators representing key space centers vows to fight to preserve the agency's besieged moon program. FULL STORY
NASA tops off new Ares launch tower at the Cape
Workers added the final piece of a 390-foot-tall Ares 1 mobile launch tower at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, topping off a new member of the Cape Canaveral skyline as questions swirl on whether the eye-catching structure will ever be used. FULL STORY
Safety paramount as NASA enters period of upheaval
NASA managers have a challenging balancing act ahead of them this year as they oversee the last five missions of the space shuttle program and prepare the agency for a future that is increasingly cloudy and uncertain. FULL STORY
NASA officials caucus for Endeavour's flight review
NASA managers Wednesday cleared the shuttle Endeavour for a predawn Superbowl Sunday launch Feb. 7, the first of a final five space station assembly flights before the shuttle fleet is retired later this year. FULL STORY
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Proton blasts off with Russian military payload
A Proton rocket launched overnight Thursday with a Russian defense ministry satellite to relay communications between troops and military commanders. FULL STORY
This Week In Space
Jan. 24: a decision nears from President Obama on the future of the manned space program, Elon Musk of SpaceX vehemently denies his rockets will be unsafe for astronauts, the clock ticks down to the launch of the shuttle Endeavour, the rover Spirit moves (but just a little), and Miles checks out the lunar-inspired artwork of moonwalker Alan Bean. You also can subscribe for free to watch episodes from iTunes.
Spirit to sleep through winter, then start new work
The Mars rover Spirit's transition from operational rover to a hibernating robot will be the most dangerous period either rover has been forced to endure on the Red Planet, but it may yield a new awakening as a stationary scientific lander later this year. FULL STORY
New GSLV rocket engine forces Indian launch delays
Trouble with a new cryogenic engine is delaying India's plans to debut an updated all-Indian version of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, the most powerful rocket in the country's inventory. FULL STORY
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T-minus 1 week until long-awaited NASA budget
Next week's release of a new federal government budget request is expected to include new direction for NASA, taking steps toward "innovative new opportunities, industries and jobs," the White House said Monday. FULL STORY
Station crew clears spot for new module launching soon
While launch pad technicians were buttoning up Endeavour's payload bay on Saturday, the crew aboard the International Space Station completed a critical robotics job to vacate the port where a new module will be attached during the space shuttle mission. FULL STORY
Looming Martian winter threatens Spirit rover
NASA Headquarters managers face an imminent decision to formally halt further extraction maneuvers by the Mars rover Spirit to conserve electricity and to save the rover's life while it remains stuck in a sand trap 61 million miles from Earth. FULL STORY
More funding needed for asteroid detection mandate
NASA is not doing enough to complete a mandated search for Earth-threatening asteroids and comets because the space agency is not receiving enough money for the problem, according to a National Research Council report. FULL STORY
Oceans of diamond possible on Uranus and Neptune
High pressure experiments that mimic conditions on the icy gas giants show that chunks of diamond can float on a sea of liquid carbon. FULL STORY
European data relay system to be decided in 2010
The European Space Agency expects to finalize a proposed data relay satellite system and secure enough funding to build the network this year, senior space officials said. FULL STORY
Observatory to monitor Sun's behavior nears launch
At a satellite-readying hangar outside the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, NASA's sophisticated new Sun-studying probe was enclosed within the giant metal fairing that will shroud the craft during ascent to space atop an Atlas 5 booster next month. FULL STORY OUR ATLAS ARCHIVE
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No sign of Phoenix during three days of listening
NASA says they heard no signals from the Phoenix lander this week during 30 communications passes over the probe's icy landing site, an expected outcome because the craft was never designed to survive the dark and cold Martian winter. FULL STORY EARLIER STORY
Endeavour crew boards the spacecraft for rehearsal
Dressed in their bright orange spacesuits and following the scripted launch morning routine, the six astronauts who will blast off aboard Endeavour next month went to the launch pad and climbed inside the shuttle Thursday for a realistic dry run. FULL STORY
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Orbital updates its Taurus 2 rocket development
Orbital Sciences is still hoping for a March 2011 debut of the company's medium-lift Taurus 2 rocket, but challenges with facility construction and delays in ground testing could push the first launch later into next year, a senior manager said. FULL STORY
Crew shifts Soyuz capsule to new station docking port
Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev and space station commander Jeff Williams climbed into their Soyuz lifeboat Thursday and moved the vehicle to a brand new docking port on the top side of the complex. FULL STORY
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Cooling line fix on track for Endeavour's launch
Work to modify hoses needed to route ammonia coolant to and from a new space station module is running on or ahead of schedule and the new lines should be delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in time for an on-schedule launch Feb. 7, officials said Wednesday. FULL STORY
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Musk refutes report slamming safety standards
A commercial space pioneer and a former astronaut are answering claims by an independent advisory panel that private companies do not meet NASA human-rating standards and last year's presidential review of the space program did not adequately consider safety. FULL STORY
ULA to serve military, science in 2010
United Launch Alliance plans 10 launches this year with Atlas and Delta rockets to dispatch payloads to space for science, Earth observation, navigation, communications and military reconnaissance missions. FULL STORY
Next shuttle crew flies to Cape for countdown test
Commander George Zamka and his crew of space station builders reached Kennedy Space Center at sundown Monday for this week's emergency training exercises and a countdown dress rehearsal. FULL STORY
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This Week In Space
Miles O'Brien and "This Week in Space" are back for their first show of 2010. In this episode: the space nation awaits direction from President Obama, Endeavour gets ready to deliver a room with a view, how an abandoned McDonald's is being used to restore closeups of the Moon, a space telescope finds new planets, plus an interview with Hubble-Hugger-In-Chief John Grunsfeld. You also can subscribe for free to watch episodes from iTunes.
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Endeavour's payload shipped out to launch pad
The Tranquility module that'll be a new room with a view for the International Space Station was trucked to space shuttle Endeavour's launch pad Monday morning, destined for blastoff next month. FULL STORY
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Launch pad development could delay Vega until 2011
The debut launch of Europe's new Vega small satellite launcher could slip until 2011, mainly due to potential delays in the development of ground systems at the rocket's launch site in South America. FULL STORY
Safety panel says canceling Ares 1 rocket is a bad idea
Add another voice to the sea of experts weighing in on the upcoming White House decision on NASA's future. A panel of independent safety specialists says abandoning NASA's besieged Ares 1 rocket is "unwise" because potential commercial space transportation providers are currently unable to meet stringent safety standards. FULL STORY
Chinese rocket launches with navigation satellite
A Chinese Long March rocket hauled a new navigation satellite to a high-altitude perch over Earth on Saturday, marking the first space launch of the year for the world's space programs. FULL STORY
Global economic recession forces ESA spending freeze
The European Space Agency is instituting a spending cap for the next two years to lighten the burden on its member states brought on by the global economic recession, according to the agency's head. FULL STORY
Satellite images show Haiti earthquake catastrophe
The world's space agencies and private satellite operators are capturing high-resolution imagery of earthquake-ravaged Haiti, showing catastrophic damage and crowds of displaced residents in the nation's capital city. FULL STORY
Veteran astronauts find new roles in commercial sector
Two former space shuttle and space station commanders are now competitors in the nascent world of commercial human spaceflight, a start-up industry still in its infancy but likely close to receiving a major boost from the White House. FULL STORY
Spacewalkers ready new Russian docking port
Space station cosmonauts Maxim Suraev and Oleg Kotov completed a successful five-hour 44-minute spacewalk Thursday, completing work to outfit a new Russian docking module. The International Space Station now boasts four ports for visiting Soyuz crew ferry craft and unmanned Progress supply ships, a requirement for expanded crews of up to six astronauts and cosmonauts. FULL STORY EVA BEGINS
Landsat fleet hanging on, waiting for reinforcements
The nearly 26-year-old Landsat 5 remote sensing satellite has cheated death once again, but Earth scientists will have to wait three more years for a fresh spacecraft to meet all their research needs. FULL STORY
NASA develops plan to avoid shuttle launch delay
NASA managers decided Tuesday to modify existing space station ammonia coolant hoses by welding shorter sections together to replace a longer hose design that failed a recent ground pressure test. If the work goes well - and the schedule is tight - NASA hopes to launch the shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7 as planned to deliver a new module to the orbiting lab complex. FULL STORY STORE:STS-130 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)
SCIENCE WIRE Communications from scientists to you
First direct spectrum of an exoplanet captured -- By studying a triple planetary system that resembles a scaled-up version of our own Sun's family of planets, astronomers have been able to obtain the first direct spectrum -- the "chemical fingerprint" -- of a planet orbiting a distant star. Unprecedented details seen on the surface of Betelgeuse -- Using interferometry, an international team led by an astronomer of Paris Observatory obtained an unprecedented image of the surface of the red supergiant Betelgeuse, in the constellation of Orion. Scientists use mirror effect to reproduce IBEX observation -- Ever since NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, mission scientists released the first comprehensive sky map of our solar system's edge in particles, solar physicists have been busy revising their models to account for the discovery of a narrow "ribbon" of bright emission that was completely unexpected and not predicted by any model at the time.
Astronauts prep for busy stretch on space station
Using a robotic arm and a high-tech railcar, astronauts aboard the International Space Station finished moving a storage platform Tuesday, beginning a busy two weeks aboard the complex that include a spacewalk and relocations of a Soyuz lifeboat and a docking adapter. FULL STORY
Most recent shuttle crew presents its mission movie
Space shuttle Atlantis' penultimate voyage occurred in November 2009, a mission that delivered nearly 15 tons of spare parts and supplies meant to fortify the future of the International Space Station. The STS-129 astronauts recap the mission in this post-flight presentation, which is posted for download by Spaceflight Now+Plus subscribers. VIDEO REPORT LEARN MORE ABOUT SFN+PLUS
Will Phoenix rise again?
Despite longshot odds, NASA will begin listening for radio signals from the Phoenix lander on Mars next week as a sheet of dry ice recedes with the onset of Martian spring.
FULL STORY
SCIENCE WIRE Communications from scientists to you
Hubble reaches 'undiscovered country' of primeval galaxies -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has broken the distance limit for galaxies and uncovered a primordial population of compact and ultra-blue galaxies that have never been seen before. As the crust turns: Cassini data show Enceladus in motion -- Blobs of warm ice that periodically rise to the surface and churn the icy crust on Saturn's moon Enceladus explain the quirky heat behavior and intriguing surface of the moon's south polar region, according to a new paper using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Daring asteroid probe on course to reach Earth
Japan's gritty Hayabusa probe isn't the first mission to be called the little spacecraft that could, but the small robot is on the verge of concluding a remarkable journey through the cosmos.
FULL STORY
Three Martian meteorites triple evidence for Mars life
More meteorites from Mars may hold evidence of life in the early history of the Red Planet, and scientists believe advanced instruments will in 2010 be able to definitively prove whether the meteorites contain fossils of alien life.
FULL STORY
Next shuttle mission could change due to payload issue
Problems with ammonia lines and connectors needed to route cooling to and from a new space station module scheduled for launch aboard the shuttle Endeavour Feb. 7 could force NASA managers to modify or delay the assembly flight, sources said Friday.
FULL STORY LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE STS-130 FLIGHT PLAN
Minotaur rocket issue triggers revamped manifest
A team of industrial and military engineers have designed a fix to the issue grounding the new Minotaur 4 rocket, but an $800 million space tracking satellite waiting for launch could be shuffled behind other payloads in the Air Force manifest.
FULL STORY
Europe unveils first Galileo satellite contracts
The European Commission has awarded a contract for the first 14 Galileo navigation satellites to OHB System of Germany and selected the Soyuz rocket to launch the constellation.
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WISE catches first glimpse of the infrared universe
NASA's infrared sky-mapping telescope has snapped its first image of the cosmos three weeks after launch, confirming the spacecraft's sensitive detectors are ready to create an atlas of the universe.
FULL STORY
Bolden: Obama supportive of human space exploration
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said Tuesday that he's confident President Obama is committed to human space exploration and assured scientists the agency's robotic missions will not be cut to pay for the manned program.
FULL STORY
Engine testing clears way for maiden Falcon 9 launch
SpaceX has completed testing of the Falcon 9 rocket's propulsion system as launch preparations get underway at the company's Cape Canaveral launch site for the vehicle's first flight. FULL STORY
Kepler detects five 'hot Jupiters' in six weeks
A robotic planet-hunting telescope in deep space has detected five new blistering worlds beyond the solar system, but the Kepler probe's search for Earth-like planets is just beginning.
FULL STORY KEPLER LAUNCH COVERAGE
SCIENCE WIRE Communications from scientists to you
Massive black hole implicated in stellar destruction -- New results from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Magellan telescopes suggest that a dense stellar remnant has been ripped apart by a black hole a thousand times as massive as the Sun. Giant intergalactic gas stream longer than thought -- A giant stream of gas flowing from neighbor galaxies around our own Milky Way is much longer and older than previously thought. The new revelations provide a fresh insight on what started the gaseous intergalactic streamer. Astronomers discover waltzing black holes -- Astronomers have discovered 33 pairs of waltzing black holes in distant galaxies. This result shows that supermassive black hole pairs are more common than previously known from observations.
Delta 4 assigned to deliver military satellite into orbit
The U.S. Air Force has tapped the Delta 4 as its rocket of choice to launch the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft two years from now, officials announced Monday. FULL STORY
Herschel telescope ready to shift science into high gear
The Herschel telescope's highest resolution instrument will begin observing the infrared universe this month after operations were suspended in August due to faulty electronics, according to the mission's project scientist. FULL STORY
SCIENCE WIRE Communications from scientists to you
Stellar mosh pit resolves a mystery -- For almost 50 years, astronomers have puzzled over the youthful appearance of stars known as blue stragglers. Blue stragglers are the timeworn Hollywood starlets of the cosmos: They shine brightly, they are older than they appear, and they have, disconcertingly, gained mass at a late stage of life. Vampires and collisions rejuvenate stars -- Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have uncovered two distinct kinds of "rejuvenated" stars in the globular cluster Messier 30. A new study shows that both stellar collisions and a process sometimes called vampirism are behind this cosmic "face lift." Suzaku finds fossil fireballs from supernovae -- Studies of two supernova remnants using the Japan-U.S. Suzaku observatory have revealed embers of high-temperature fireballs that immediately followed the explosions. Even after thousands of years, gas within these stellar wrecks retain the imprint of temperatures 10,000 times hotter than the sun's surface.
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