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News Archive: Aug. 1-11 |
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NASA says September shuttle launch unlikely
NASA's Bill Gerstenmaier, who leads the investigation into fuel tank foam loss, said Thursday there were no immediate easy fixes to the problem and a September launch of shuttle Atlantis was not likely.
 FULL STORY
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Martian radars to peer below Red Planet's surface
Interplanetary geologists are busy this week analyzing the first sets of data from an Italian subsurface sounding radar currently orbiting Mars, as a crucial counterpart sits on a Florida launch pad ready to join the hunt for conjectured underground ice and water.
FULL STORY
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Ariane 5 rocket gives weighty cargo ride to orbit
Europe's Ariane 5 rocket proved up to the task Thursday morning as it flew into space to deliver the world's heaviest commercial communications satellite that will extend high-speed broadband Internet services to the the most remote locales in the most populated region on Earth.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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Discovery lands!
The shuttle Discovery's crew, braving the hellish fire of re-entry for the first time since Columbia's ill-fated descent two-and-a-half years ago, flew safely back to Earth Tuesday, gliding to a predawn California touchdown to close out an action-packed mission.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
LANDING TRACK
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
LANDING OF DISCOVERY! PLAY
VIDEO:
CREW POST-LANDING CONFERENCE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING ENTRY PLAY
VIDEO:
INFRARED TRACKING CAMERA FOLLOWS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO:
SIDE VIEW FROM CAMERA NORTH OF RUNWAY PLAY
VIDEO:
SIDE VIEW FROM CAMERA SOUTH OF RUNWAY PLAY
VIDEO:
POST-LANDING NEWS CONFERENCE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
ENTRY FLIGHT DIRECTOR BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
COMMANDER SPEAKS AFTER CLIMBING FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY'S HOMECOMING DIVERTED TO CALIFORNIA PLAY
VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY WAVED OFF PLAY
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS TOLD MONDAY'S LANDING IS SCRUBBED PLAY
VIDEO:
MONDAY'S FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY WAVED OFF PLAY
VIDEO:
LANDING PREVIEW BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
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Historic Cape Canaveral launch pad toppled
A Cape Canaveral launch pad tower with a long history was wiped from the spaceport's skyline Saturday, knocked to the ground by 171 pounds of explosives as part of a $5 million environmental cleanup project.
FULL STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
LAUNCH COMPLEX 13 TOWER TOPPLED BY EXPLOSIVES PLAY
VIDEO:
CLOSE-UP VIEW OF EXPLOSIVE CHARGES FIRING PLAY
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New Cassini images show 'Northern Lights' of Saturn
New images of Saturn obtained by a University of Colorado at Boulder-led team using an instrument on the Cassini spacecraft show auroral emissions at its poles similar to Earth's Northern Lights.
FULL STORY
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Discovery does victory lap after departing station
The shuttle Discovery undocked from the international space station early Saturday, wrapping up a successful repair and resupply mission. With pilot James Kelly at the controls, Discovery pulled away directly in front of the lab complex and then flew a loop around the station for a spectacular photo survey.
FULL STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
SATURDAY MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
AUDIO:
LISTEN TO THE STATUS BRIEFING MP3 FILE
VIDEO:
FAREWELL CEREMONY BETWEEN SHUTTLE AND ISS CREWS PLAY
VIDEO:
DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM STATION AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO:
SHUTTLE FLIES ABOVE STATION DURING FLYAROUND PLAY
VIDEO:
STUNNING VIEW OF STATION WITH EARTH'S LIMB PLAY
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Fuel tank's pre-launch foam repair under scrutiny
A "tiger team" of NASA and contractor engineers is reviewing the manufacturing history of the shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank to find clues about what might have caused a chunk of foam insulation to pop off during launch July 26. NASA officials said Friday that foam in the area that pulled away was slightly damaged during the tank's processing, requiring a standard repair for relatively routine cracks and gouges.
FULL STORY - updated
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
FRIDAY MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS CALL ASTRONAUTS PLAY
VIDEO:
CARGO MODULE RETURNED TO DISCOVERY PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
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Fourth spacewalk ruled out
NASA's mission management team Thursday ruled out another shuttle repair spacewalk, this one to fix a damaged insulation blanket, saying a detailed analysis showed Discovery's crew can safely return to Earth as is.
FULL STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
COMBO MISSION STATUS/MANAGEMENT BRIEFING DIAL-UP |
BROADBAND PART 1 & 2
VIDEO:
INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING ASTRONAUT TRIBUTE PLAY
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Hubble Space Telescope spies a zoo of galaxies
Gazing deep into the universe, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spied a menagerie of galaxies. Located within the same tiny region of space, these numerous galaxies display an assortment of unique characteristics. Some are big; some are small. A few are relatively nearby, but most are far away. Hundreds of these faint galaxies have never been seen before until their light was captured by Hubble.
FULL STORY
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Spitzer telescope finds hidden, hungry black holes
Most of the biggest black holes in the universe have been eating cosmic meals behind closed doors - until now. With its sharp infrared eyes, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope peered through walls of galactic dust to uncover what may be the long-sought missing population of hungry black holes known as quasars.
FULL STORY
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Astronomers find clue to glowing X-ray sky
Astronomers have found that the sky glows in very energetic X-rays. They think the X-rays are the last gasp of material being swallowed by massive black holes. These objects hide behind thick walls of gas and dust, walls so thick that only radio waves and very high-energy X-rays can escape. Even moderately energetic X-rays are blocked.
FULL STORY
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OTHER HEADLINES Additional stories today
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Temporary space mission launched by Chinese -- China sent its latest recoverable satellite into orbit Tuesday on a mission containing a host of scientific, technology, and reconnaissance experiments to be returned to Earth after their stay in space.
NASA to bring the Moon, Mars experience to Indy -- Experience a journey to the Moon, Mars and beyond when NASA brings its new interactive exhibit -- the Vision for Space Exploration Trailer -- to the NASCAR Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, Aug. 5-7.
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Earlier News |
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Tribute to Fallen Heroes
The crews of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station pay tribute to the fallen astronauts and cosmonauts lost while furthering space exploration. Spaceflight Now presents the tribute in video and audio for all our readers:
VIDEO: PLAY QUICKTIME
AUDIO: DOWNLOAD MP3
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Space repair man fixes shuttle tile gap fillers
Astronaut Steve Robinson made an unprecedented repair job beneath the nose of space shuttle Discovery Wednesday. The spacewalker, perched on the station's robot arm, removed with ease two protruding tile gap fillers that threatened to trigger dangerously high temperatures during the shuttle's fiery reentry.
FULL STORY
PREVIEW STORY
IMAGES: GAP FILLERS REMOVED
IMAGES: SIMULATED VIEWS OF SPACEWALK
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKER REMOVES FIRST TILE GAP FILLER PLAY
VIDEO:
SECOND GAP FILLER PULLED OUT AS SEEN VIA HELMETCAM PLAY
VIDEO:
LONGER-LENGTH MOVIE OF SECOND GAP FILLER REMOVAL PLAY
VIDEO:
BEHIND THE SCENES INSIDE MISSION CONTROL PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKER FLOATS OUT OF AIRLOCK TO BEGIN EVA PLAY
VIDEO:
STOWAGE PLATFORM MOUNTED TO STATION EXTERIOR PLAY
VIDEO:
HELMETCAM VIEW OF EXPERIMENT INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO:
NOGUCHI DEPLOYS THE EXPERIMENT PACKAGE PLAY
VIDEO:
STUNNING HELMETCAM VIEW FROM ATOP THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS RETURN TO AIRLOCK AT EVA'S END PLAY
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Chatting with the press
Throughout space shuttle Discovery's mission, its astronauts have taken time to give live interviews with various U.S. television and radio news outlets to answer a range of questions.
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
THURSDAY'S ASSOCIATED PRESS INTERVIEW PLAY
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INTERVIEW BY NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT PLAY
VIDEO:
AP RADIO INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INTERVIEW PLAY
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CBS RADIO INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
ABC SUNDAY MORNING INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
'FOX NEWS SUNDAY' INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
NBC 'MEET THE PRESS' INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO:
INTERVIEW WITH CNN'S MILES O'BRIEN PLAY
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Another spacewalk a 'remote' possibility
With a successful spacewalk repair job Wednesday, engineers believe the shuttle Discovery's heat shield is in good shape for re-entry and landing Monday. But one question mark remains: What, if anything, to do about a damaged insulation blanket just below commander Eileen Collins' left cockpit window.
FULL STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
MANAGEMENT NEWS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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Probe whips past Earth on long voyage to Mercury
Earth's first extended visit to the planet Mercury is now one step closer to success after the MESSENGER probe celebrated its birthday one day early on Tuesday with a speedy flyby of its home planet to tweak its course for arrival in orbit in 2011.
FULL STORY
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New cosmic look may cast doubts on big bang theory
A new analysis of 'cool' spots in the cosmic microwave background may cast new doubts on a key piece of evidence supporting the big bang theory of how the universe was formed.
FULL STORY
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Protruding gap filler will be pulled out or cut off
Astronaut David Wolf demonstrated the techniques that will be used to remove two protruding tile gap fillers from Discovery's protective heat shield at a news conference on Tuesday. He showed how astronaut Steve Robinson would either pull out or cut off the material. Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers can view the demonstration here.
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUT DAVE WOLF EXPLAINS GAP FILLER REMOVAL PLAY
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NASA assesses threat from cockpit window blanket
Amid planning for an unprecedented shuttle heat-shield repair spacewalk Wednesday, engineers also are assessing the potential threat posed by a damaged insulation blanket just below commander Eileen Collins' left cockpit window. While engineers say the blanket poses no threat of heat damage during entry, there's a chance a small portion of the blanket could rip away in the lower, denser atmosphere and hit the shuttle's aft section.
FULL STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S WAYNE HALE BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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Astronauts confident about spacewalk fix-it mission
The Discovery astronauts said Tuesday they were initially concerned about the safety of a proposed spacewalk repair job Wednesday to remove two protruding "gap fillers" sticking out from heat-shield tiles on the shuttle's belly. But they are now convinced it's not only safe, but a relatively simple task that will eliminate any lingering concern about unwanted re-entry heating.
FULL STORY
RATIONALE FOR SPACEWALK
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
PRESIDENTIAL PHONE CALL PLAY
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUT DAVE WOLF EXPLAINS GAP FILLER REMOVAL PLAY
VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S CREW NEWS CONFERENCE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
JAPANESE MEDIA EVENT (WITH TRANSLATION) PLAY
VIDEO:
RUSSIAN MEDIA EVENT (WITH TRANSLATION) PLAY
VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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Spacewalk beneath shuttle never attempted before
A Discovery astronaut, working on the end of the space station's robot arm, will attempt to remove two protruding "gap fillers" sticking up from protective heat-shield tiles on the belly of the shuttle Discovery Wednesday during an already planned spacewalk, officials said Monday.
FULL STORY
EARLIER STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
DECISION ANNOUNCED AT BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
VIDEO:
GROUND TESTS ON PULLING, CUTTING GAP FILLERS PLAY
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New station gyroscope installed by spacewalkers
Two spacewalkers installed a new motion control gyroscope on the international space station Monday, but initial electrical checks failed. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi then was asked to disconnect and reseat three critical electrical cables and, after finding one that was a bit loose, the gyroscope powered up normally.
FULL STORY
PREVIEW STORY
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS PREPARE FOR THE SPACEWALK PLAY
VIDEO:
FAILED GYRO IS REMOVED FROM THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO:
THE NEW GYRO IS INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS POSE FOR PICTURES PLAY
VIDEO:
MONDAY'S STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
VIDEO:
BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL DURING EVA PLAY
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Read our earlier news archive page.
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After traveling all morning and covering 4.2 miles of ground, shuttle Discovery arrives at its launch complex to begin the final preparations for blastoff. (3min 45sec file)
Space shuttle Discovery climbs the five percent incline ramp to the pad surface. The crawler's hydraulic lifts keep the shuttle level during the ramp ascent. (6min 52sec file)
After the long, time-consuming journey, Discovery nears launch pad 39B on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. (4min 32sec file)
The early morning rollout experienced an overheating bearing in the crawler, forcing reduced speeds and some stops along the way. (6min 44sec file)
As day breaks over Kennedy Space Center, Discovery makes its way down the crawlerway en route to the launch pad. (4min 11sec file)
Shuttle Discovery emerges from the Vehicle Assembly Building in the overnight darkness for its 4.2-mile trip to pad 39B. (4min 39sec file)
Shuttle Discovery emerges from the Vehicle Assembly Building in the overnight darkness for its 4.2-mile trip to pad 39B. (3min 01sec file)
This collection of updates from NASA launch commentator George Diller documents the final preparations and minor problems that held up the start of Discovery's rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building. (5min 01sec file)
Technicians ready space shuttle Discovery for demating from the external fuel tank inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. (1min 24sec file)
Space shuttle Discovery is demated from its original external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. The ship is lowered to its transport trailer in the Vehicle Assembly Building. (2min 38sec file)
Shuttle Discovery enters into the Vehicle Assembly Building after a 10-hour journey from launch pad 39B. (4min 29sec file)
The International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew pays tribute to our fallen heroes for Memorial Day. (1min 00sec QuickTime file)