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International Space Station receives cargo vessel
A Russian cargo-delivery freighter safely docked to the International Space Station Wednesday, ferrying more than two tons of supplies and equipment for the outpost and its resident crew.
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CARGO SHIP AND STATION RENDEZVOUS IN SPACE QT
VIDEO:
THE PROGRESS VEHICLE FLIES AROUND THE STATION QT
VIDEO:
DOCKING AS SEEN FROM CAMERA ON THE PROGRESS QT
VIDEO:
10-MINUTE MOVIE OF APPROACHING AND DOCKING QT
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NASA budget proposal kills Hubble repair mission
President George W. Bush's proposed 2006 budget would give NASA a modest funding increase, but would cancel a proposed robotic servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope as well as a nuclear-powered spacecraft to explore the moons of Jupiter.
FULL STORY
O'KEEFE STATEMENT
DOWNLOAD THE FULL BUDGET DOCUMENT
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Last Atlas 3 rocket launches a pair of spy satellites
While its liftoff was hidden by a dense blanket of fog draped over Cape Canaveral's Complex 36 Thursday morning, the last Lockheed Martin Atlas 3 rocket flew into the history books in fine style as it successfully launched two formation-flying spy satellites probably meant to track enemy ships at sea.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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FINAL ATLAS 3 ROCKET BLASTS OFF QT
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DRAMATIC ONBOARD CAMERA VIEW OF STAGING QT
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Atlas rocket workers say goodbye to Complex 36
After heart-felt speeches and toasts to say goodbye to the launch site that Atlas-Centaur rockets have called their Cape Canaveral home since the 1960s, the spotlights shining on Complex 36 were turned off in a ceremony following's Thursday's liftoff.
FULL STORY
FALCON ROCKETS TO USE COMPLEX 36
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FAREWELL CEREMONY TO COMPLEX 36 DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
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Spacewalkers spot residue around vent ports
Spacewalkers Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov have spotted a residue of some sort on and around a trio of vent ports on the exterior of the Russian command module Zvezda that might shed light on past problems with the space station's air rejuvenation system.
FULL STORY
PREVIEW STORY
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Titan forecast calls for rain, Huygens data shows
Liquid methane apparently falls like rain on Saturn's smog-shrouded moon Titan, washing down icy channels that ultimately spill into broad lakebeds dotted with ice islands and shoals, according to the latest data from Europe's Huygens probe. While the spacecraft did not detect any standing pools of liquefied natural gas in its immediate area, the data indicate rainfall is common on Titan and that liquid methane is present within a few inches of its surface.
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Surface of Saturn's moon Titan revealed in color
Tired and weary after a sleepless night spent sorting through their data, scientists on Saturday unveiled more pictures returned from the European Space Agency's Huygens probe that landed on Saturn's moon Titan Friday.
PHOTO: TITAN IN COLOR
PHOTO: SIZES OF SURFACE FEATURES
PHOTO: OVERHEAD VIEW OF TERRAIN
PHOTO: MOSAIC OF MANY IMAGES
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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THE NEW PICTURES PRESENTED WITH EXPERT NARRATION QT
VIDEO:
LISTEN TO SOUNDS FROM HUYGENS WITH NARRATION QT
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LISTEN TO SOUNDS FROM HUYGENS WITH NARRATION FOR IPOD
VIDEO:
RESULTS FROM HUYGENS' SURFACE SCIENCE PACKAGE QT
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CHIEF SCIENTIST EXPLAINS COMMUNICATIONS ERROR QT
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SATURDAY PHOTO & SCIENCE BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
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SATURDAY PHOTO & SCIENCE BRIEFING FOR IPOD
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European probe becomes Titan's first visitor
The European Space Agency's ambitious Huygens probe descended to Saturn's moon Titan Friday, becoming the first spacecraft to touch the mysterious world's surface. Titan is believed to resemble conditions of a young Earth. A mission scientist says the first picture released shows what could be drainage channels flowing to a possible shoreline.
FULL STORY
SEE FIRST PICTURES
ONE DATA CHANNEL LOST
CASSINI RELAYS THE DATA
HUYGENS MISSION ENDS
PROBE PHONES HOME
LANDING PREVIEW STORY
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THE FIRST PICTURE FROM HUYGENS IS REVEALED QT
VIDEO:
OFFICIALS OFFER THOUGHTS AFTER SEEING PICTURE QT
VIDEO:
HUYGENS POST-LANDING BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO:
HUYGENS POST-LANDING BRIEFING FOR IPOD
VIDEO:
STATUS REPORT DURING DESCENT DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO:
MISSION STATUS REPORT DURING DESCENT FOR IPOD
VIDEO:
HUYGENS PRE-ARRIVAL NEWS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO:
HUYGENS PRE-ARRIVAL NEWS BRIEFING FOR IPOD

VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF HUYGENS PROBE'S SCIENCE OBJECTIVES QT
VIDEO:
JULY NEWS BRIEFING ON CASSINI'S PICTURES OF TITAN QT
VIDEO:
PICTURES SHOWING TITAN SURFACE FROM OCT. FLYBY QT
VIDEO:
WHAT'S KNOWN ABOUT TITAN BEFORE THE FIRST FLYBY QT
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NARRATED MOVIE OF CLOUDS MOVING NEAR SOUTH POLE QT
VIDEO:
OCT. BRIEFING ON RADAR IMAGES OF TITAN SURFACE QT
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Probe launched to smack heart of wandering comet
Look out Comet Tempel 1, here comes Deep Impact! A washing machine-sized projectile tucked inside its mothership spacecraft launched from Earth Wednesday on a 268-million-mile collision course that promises to create spectacular July Fourth fireworks when the 820-pound copper-tipped bullet smashes into the comet's frigid heart.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
PHOTO GALLERY: SERVICE TOWER ROLLBACK
PHOTO GALLERY: ROCKET AT SUNRISE
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DEEP IMPACT BLASTS OFF ATOP DELTA 2 ROCKET QT
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LONGER-DURATION MOVIE OF TODAY'S LAUNCH QT
VIDEO:
LAUNCH AS SEEN FROM THE CAPE PRESS SITE QT
VIDEO:
WIDER-ANGLE LAUNCH VIEW FROM PRESS SITE QT
VIDEO:
COCOA BEACH TRACKING CAMERA VIDEO OF LAUNCH QT
VIDEO:
TRACKER POSITIONED NORTH OF THE LAUNCH PAD QT
VIDEO:
PLAYALINDA BEACH TRACKING CAMERA VIEW QT
VIDEO:
CLOSE-UP VIEW OF ENGINE IGNITION QT

VIDEO:
MOBILE SERVICE TOWER ROLLED BACK BEFORE DAWN QT
VIDEO:
NARRATION OF DEEP IMPACT'S PRE-LAUNCH CAMPAIGN QT
VIDEO:
ON-PAD ASSEMBLY OF ROCKET SHOWN WITH NARRATION QT
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TUESDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS UPDATE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
SCIENCE BRIEFING ON EVE OF LAUNCH DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO:
OVERVIEW OF NASA'S DEEP IMPACT MISSION QT
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LEAD RESEARCHER PREVIEWS DEEP IMPACT SCIENCE QT
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Mars Exploration Rovers: Full video coverage
NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity have begun their missions on the Red Planet to search for evidence of past water. All of our comprehensive coverage is found at the mission index:
FULL COVERAGE
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Jeanne 'kindler, gentler' to KSC than Frances
The Kennedy Space Center suffered additional wind and water damage from Hurricane Jeanne, but officials said Monday the spaceport never experienced hurricane-force winds and that Frances caused considerably more damage.
FULL STORY
HURRICANE STATUS CENTER - updates
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MONDAY'S HURRICANE DAMAGE NEWS CONFERENCE QT
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HURRICANE JEANNE AS SEEN FROM THE SPACE STATION QT
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Massive merger of galaxies is most powerful on record
An international team of scientists announced Thursday they observed a nearby head-on collision of two galaxy clusters. The clusters smashed together thousands of galaxies and trillions of stars. It is one of the most powerful events ever witnessed. Such collisions are second only to the Big Bang in total energy output.
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Scientists optimistic about salvaging Genesis mission
Two days after a spacecraft carrying samples of the solar wind crashed into the Utah desert, scientists are increasingly optimistic about accomplishing most, if not all, of the mission's primary science objectives.
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Genesis space capsule crashes back to Earth
A small spacecraft carrying priceless samples of the sun crashed into the Utah desert Wednesday when its stabilizing parachute failed to deploy, bringing an innovative $264 million mission, NASA's first sample return flight since the Apollo moonshots, to a disappointing end.
FULL STORY - updated!
MISSION STATUS CENTER
LAUNCH COVERAGE FROM 2001
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POST-LANDING NEWS CONFERENCE QT

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TRACKING CAMERAS FIRST SPOT CAPSULE DURING DESCENT QT
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GENESIS CAPSULE TUMBLES TO A HIGH-SPEED IMPACT QT
VIDEO:
SLOW-MOTION VIEW OF CAPSULE SLAMMING INTO GROUND QT
VIDEO:
AERIAL VIEWS OF CAPSULE HALF BURIED IN IMPACT CRATER QT
VIDEO:
RECOVERY HELICOPTERS TAKE OFF EARLIER TODAY QT
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NARRATED ANIMATION SHOWS ORIGINAL RETURN PLAN QT
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GENESIS PRE-RETURN NEWS CONFERENCE QT
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TUESDAY'S STATUS BRIEFING FROM UTAH QT
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Kennedy Space Center damage estimate updated
The Kennedy Space Center, reeling from widespread wind and water damage caused by Hurricane Frances, will remain closed to normal work until Monday at the earliest while engineers complete a detailed damage assessment. Updating initial damage reports, the center director said Tuesday the Vehicle Assembly Building lost large areas of side paneling, leaving gaping "windows" into the building's interior that are open to the elements.
FULL STORY
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Cape battered by Hurricane Frances; Ivan threatens
Hurricane Frances battered the Kennedy Space Center with sustained winds of more than 70 mph, ripping off an estimated 40,000 square feet of siding on the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building and partially destroying the roof of a critical heat shield tile facility needed for NASA's shuttle return to flight effort.
FULL STORY [Posted: Monday]
HURRICANE UPDATES
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KSC DIRECTOR GIVES INITIAL DAMAGE REPORT ON MONDAY QT

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SHUTTLE FLEET PREPARED FOR FRANCES QT
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SPACE STATION COMPONENTS BAGGED QT
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Space station residents complete spacewalk
Space station commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Michael Fincke staged a five-hour 21-minute spacewalk Friday, successfully installing a new coolant system component and three antennas that unmanned European cargo craft will use for future dockings.
FULL STORY
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Atlas 2 rocket retires with remarkable record
Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2 family of boosters rocketed into retirement Tuesday, placing a classified U.S. national security satellite into space following a sunset sendoff from Cape Canaveral.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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FINAL ATLAS 2AS ROCKET BLASTS OFF QT
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NRO PAYLOAD IS DEPLOYED FROM CENTAUR UPPER STAGE QT
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Launch team salutes Cape's pad 36A after final liftoff
It was the starting point for dozens of commercial communications satellites, military spacecraft and pioneering space probes, including the first man-made object to journey outside our solar system. But after 42 years of Atlas rocket launches, pad 36A saw its final blastoff Tuesday night.
FULL STORY
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LAUNCH TEAM SALUTES PAD 36A AFTER ITS LAST LAUNCH QT

VIDEO:
WEATHER SCRUBS MONDAY'S COUNTDOWN QT
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PREVIEW THIS ATLAS LAUNCH WITH NARRATED ANIMATION QT
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SUNDAY'S COUNTDOWN IS HALTED AT T-90 SECONDS QT
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Scientists discover a new class of extrasolar planets
Astronomers have announced the first discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system about 10 to 20 times the size of Earth - far smaller than any previously detected. The planets make up a class of Neptune-sized extrasolar planets.
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History-making Titan 4 rocket put on the pad
By the time the sun rose over Cape Canaveral Wednesday a bittersweet moment had finally arrived for hundreds of workers as the final Titan 4 rocket to fly from the Florida spaceport reached its launch pad.
FULL STORY
SEE OUR TITAN ARCHIVE
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TITAN 4 ROCKET EMERGES FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING QT
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Final engine test-fired for shuttle return to flight
Engineers at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi have successfully tested what's expected to be the last of three Space Shuttle Main Engines that will carry the next shuttle into orbit.
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Delta 4-Heavy rocket to take maiden flight in Oct.
A new launch date has been selected for the delayed demonstration flight of Boeing's massive Delta 4-Heavy rocket that will carry a satellite simulator and two tiny nanosats.
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International Space Station receives resupply ship
A three-ton shipment of supplies safely arrived at the International Space Station early Saturday as an unmanned Russian cargo ship made a fully automated rendezvous and docking to the orbiting outpost 225 miles above Earth.
DOCKING STORY
LAUNCH STORY
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Proton rocket deploys communications satellite
The Amazonas communications spacecraft that will serve Spanish and Portuguese speaking residents on both sides of the Atlantic was successfully launched aboard a commercial Russian Proton rocket Thursday morning.
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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Probe leaves Earth on voyage to orbit Mercury
A Boeing Delta 2 rocket roared to life August 3 and climbed into space, launching NASA's ambitious MESSENGER probe on a round-about six-and-a-half-year voyage to Mercury, a $427 million quest to fill in one of the most glaring blanks in planetary exploration.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
OUR PREVIEW STORY
LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
GROUND TRACK MAP
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FIERY BLASTOFF AS CAPTURED BY PAD CAMERA QT
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LIFTOFF AS SEEN FROM PLAYALINDA BEACH QT
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LAUNCH AS SEEN FROM CAPE'S PRESS SITE 1 QT
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COCOA BEACH TRACKING CAMERA LAUNCH VIDEO QT
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VIEW FROM ALTERNATE PRESS VIEWING LOCATION QT
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POWERFUL TRACKING CAMERA OFFERS THIS ANGLE QT
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CLOSE-UP VIEW OF BOOSTER NOZZLES DURING ASCENT QT
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POST-FLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH NASA LAUNCH MANAGER QT

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SERVICE TOWER ROLLED BACK FOR SECOND COUNTDOWN QT
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BAD WEATHER SCRUBS MONDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT QT
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WEATHER OFFICER GIVES FORECAST FOR TUESDAY QT
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MESSENGER'S LAUNCH CAMPAIGN SHOWN WITH NARRATION QT
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DELTA 2 ROCKET IS ASSEMBLED ON THE LAUNCH PAD QT
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MOBILE SERVICE TOWER IS ROLLED BACK SUNDAY EVENING QT

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SATURDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT
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MESSENGER PRE-LAUNCH SCIENCE BRIEFING QT
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Craft launched to probe atmosphere's chemistry
A school bus-sized space observatory that will monitor the health of Earth's atmosphere in unprecedented detail rocketed into polar orbit July 15, finally darting away from its California launch pad atop a Boeing Delta 2 booster after several frustrating delays.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE
GROUND TRACK MAP
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THE DELTA ROCKET LAUNCHES AURA QT
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AURA IS DEPLOYED FROM THE DELTA ROCKET QT
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WEDNESDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT IS SCRUBBED QT
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LAUNCH DIRECTOR EXPLAINS WEDNESDAY'S PROBLEMS QT
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TUESDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT IS SCRUBBED QT
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AURA'S LAUNCH CAMPAIGN SHOWN WITH NARRATION QT
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DELTA 2 ROCKET IS ASSEMBLED ON THE LAUNCH PAD QT
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MOBILE SERVICE TOWER IS ROLLED BACK MONDAY EVENING QT
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ANIMATION SHOWS DELTA LAUNCHING AURA INTO ORBIT QT
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AURA SCIENTIST EXPLAINS WHAT MISSION AIMS TO DO QT
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WATCH FRIDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT
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ANIMATION OF AURA STUDYING THE ATMOSPHERE QT
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Suit problem ends station spacewalk
Station commander Gennady Padalka, U.S. flight engineer Mike Fincke and Russian ground controllers are troubleshooting a problem with Fincke's Orlan spacesuit that forced the crew to abort a planned six-hour spacewalk Thursday. Another attempt could be staged as early as June 29.
FULL STORY [Posted Thurs.]
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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SPACEWALK IS ABORTED BECAUSE OF SPACESUIT PROBLEM QT
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FINCKE TALKS TO MISSION CONTROL ABOUT FUTURE PLANS QT
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NASA SAYS SPACEWALK COULD BE TRIED AGAIN JUNE 29 QT

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NASA unveils next steps of agency's transformation
In the latest of what will be ongoing briefings, Administrator Sean O'Keefe has announced a transformation of NASA's organization structure designed to streamline the agency and position it to better implement the Vision for Space Exploration.
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Delta rocket successfully launches one for The Gipper
Finally winning the battle over Florida's summertime weather after three earlier losses, a Boeing Delta 2 rocket roared to space Wednesday and deployed a Global Positioning System military navigation satellite in a mission dedicated to the memory of President Ronald Reagan.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
TUESDAY'S UPDATE STORY
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Comet's dust clouds hit probe 'like thunderbolt'
Two swarms of microscopic cometary dust blasted NASA's Stardust spacecraft in short but intense bursts as it approached within 150 miles of Comet Wild 2 last January, data from a University of Chicago instrument flying aboard the spacecraft has revealed.
FULL STORY
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Sweeping changes needed for moon-Mars initiative
To successfully send humans back to the moon and eventually on to Mars, NASA must implement sweeping cultural changes, transforming itself into a leaner, more innovative agency that relies much more heavily on private industry and international cooperation, a presidential panel reported Wednesday.
FULL STORY
DOWNLOAD COMMISSION REPORT (PDF file)
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Powerful broadcasting satellite goes into orbit
Global communications satellite operator Intelsat, which will mark its 40th anniversary later this year, used a Russian Proton M rocket to launch its largest and most powerful spacecraft Wednesday night from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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Date for upcoming ISS spacewalk in limbo
The Expedition 9 crew, commander Gennady Padalka and NASA ISS science officer Mike Fincke, spent their seventh week aboard the Station continuing to prepare for their first spacewalk, now under consideration to be conducted June 24.
FULL STORY
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Robotic servicing mission to Hubble considered
NASA is asking for proposals to mount a robotic mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the agency announced Tuesday. Earlier this year, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe killed plans to launch a final space shuttle servicing mission due to human safety concerns in the wake of Columbia. Read the NASA announcement:
FULL STORY
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Raw ingredients for life found around young stars
NASA has announced new findings from the Spitzer Space Telescope, including the discovery of significant amounts of icy organic materials sprinkled throughout several "planetary construction zones," or dusty planet-forming discs, which circle infant stars.
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Supply ship safely arrives at space station
The International Space Station received its latest resupply ship Thursday as a Russian-made cargo carrier loaded with nearly three tons of fuel, food and equipment successfully docked to the outpost.
FULL STORY
LAUNCH STORY
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Next-to-last Atlas 2AS rocket lofts TV satellite
With its retirement looming on the horizon, Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2AS rocket kept its flawless success record alive and well May 19 with the launch of a broadcasting satellite that will aid the expansion of high-definition TV programming across the United States.
FULL STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
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OFFICIALS MAKE CELEBRATORY SPEECHES AFTER LAUNCH QT
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SATELLITE AND ROCKET PRE-LAUNCH ACTIVITIES QT

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The Eventual Eleven: Meet the astronaut class of '04
They are the faces of the next era of U.S. space exploration. Selected by NASA as the 2004 class of astronaut candidates, these nine men and two women will wait years before getting the opportunity to fly into space. But their work will help prepare for humankind's return to the moon and push to Mars.
FULL STORY
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Astronaut Hall of Fame inducts 2004 class
The shuttle commander killed in the Challenger explosion, the first American woman to walk in space, the first American to live aboard Russian's space station Mir, the first African-American to command a space mission and the commander of the first mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday.
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Soyuz capsule brings station crew back to Earth
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three departing space station astronauts landed in Kazakhstan at 0012 GMT Thursday night, capping the 195-day mission by the Expedition 8 crew of Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri and the 11-day voyage by Dutch researcher Andre Kuipers.
LANDING STORY
MISSION STATUS CENTER
UNDOCKING STORY
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CREW MEMBERS BOARD SOYUZ AND CLOSE THE HATCH QT
VIDEO:
SOYUZ CAPSULE UNDOCKS FROM THE SPACE STATION QT
VIDEO:
CAPSULE FIRES THRUSTERS TO INCREASE SEPARATION SPEED QT
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CREWMATES WELCOMED IN KUSTANAI, KAZAKHSTAN QT
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THE CREW SPEAKS ABOUT THEIR RETURN TO EARTH QT
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POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF NASA ASTRONAUT QT
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POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH EXPEDITION 10 COMMANDER QT

VIDEO:
PREVIEW THE EXPEDITION 9 MISSION QT
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MEET THE NEW STATION CREW IN THIS NARRATED MOVIE QT
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Comprehensive space station video coverage
Hours of video capturing launch of the new International Space Station resident crew, known as Expedition 9, and preparations for the Expedition 8's return to Earth after a half-year in orbit is provided to Spaceflight Now Plus users:
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Spacecraft launched to test Albert Einstein's theories
A slender Boeing Delta 2 rocket boosted NASA's Gravity Probe B spacecraft into polar orbit Tuesday, kicking off a $700 million mission to precisely measure how gravity warps and twists the fabric of space and time.
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LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY - new!
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GRAVITY PROBE-B LAUNCHES ATOP DELTA ROCKET QT
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LIFTOFF AS SEEN FROM MOBILE SERVICE TOWER QT
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LAUNCH PAD UMBILICALS YANK AWAY AT LIFTOFF QT
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LAUNCH REPLAY FROM CAMERA ON BACK SIDE OF PAD QT
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ROCKET CAMERA SHOWS GRAVITY PROBE-B DEPLOYMENT QT
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Japanese Superbird soars to space atop Atlas launcher
Blessed with perfect weather for a space shot and a smooth-as-silk countdown, a Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket blasted off Thursday night to deliver a Japanese communications satellite into a record-setting high orbit designed to economize the payload's precious fuel supply.
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LAUNCH PHOTOS
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ATLAS ROCKET LAUNCHES SUPERBIRD 6 QT
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PAYLOAD IS SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED FROM UPPER STAGE QT
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NARRATED ATLAS/SUPERBIRD LAUNCH PREVIEW QT
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History flashback: The first space shuttle mission
This video retrospective captures the first space shuttle flight from Columbia's delivery to Kennedy Space Center in 1979, assembly and rollout to the launch pad, its safe ascent to orbit in 1981 and return to Earth two days later.
FULL REPORT
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April 12: Historic day for space program
April 12 is a great day in the history of spaceflight, marking the 43rd anniversary of the first human spaceflight and the 23rd anniversary of the first flight of the Space Shuttle. In keeping with tradition, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe sent congratulations on behalf of the agency to Russian Federal Space Agency Head Anatolii Perminov.
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HISTORICAL FOOTAGE OF YURI GAGARIN'S FLIGHT QT
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SPACE STATION CREW CELEBRATES COSMONAUTICS DAY QT
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Scramjet experiment soars off California coast
NASA's experimental X-43A hypersonic research vehicle was successfully launched Saturday, demonstrating for the first time an airbreathing scramjet-powered aircraft while soaring 95,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean at seven times the speed of sound.
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EXTENDED CLIP OF LAUNCH AS SEEN LIVE QT
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SUCCESS DECLARED AT POST-LAUNCH PRESS BRIEFING QT

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TECHNICIANS PUT FINAL TOUCHES ON X-43A QT
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B-52 CARRIER AIRCRAFT ROLLS TO THE RUNWAY QT
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THE B-52 TAKES OFF FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE QT
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X-43A AEROSUFACES TESTED IN THE AIR QT
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PEGASUS FINS CHECKED BEFORE LAUNCH QT
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PREVIEW ANIMATION SHOWING X-43A LAUNCH QT
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B-52 SAFELY LANDS FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH QT
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Newest GPS spacecraft successfully soars into orbit
As the 50th Global Positioning System satellite rose to space Saturday, it celebrated the man who championed the concept of orbiting spacecraft serving as "lighthouses in the sky" to guide mankind with precision navigation information.
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MISSION STATUS CENTER
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Most distant object in Solar System discovered
NASA-funded researchers have discovered the most distant object orbiting Earth's Sun. The object is a mysterious planet-like body three times farther from Earth than Pluto.
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Mobile communications satellite launched for Asia
Lockheed Martin's Atlas 3 rocket put on a late-night sky show Saturday, ripping a fiery trail to space to deploy the Mobile Broadcasting Satellite that will transmit video, music and news to the palm of your hand.
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MISSION STATUS CENTER
TIME-LAPSE PHOTO OF LAUNCH
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VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF MBSAT SPACECRAFT AND MISSION QT
VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH COMMENTS FROM MANAGERS QT
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Suit problem forces early end to station spacewalk
Astronaut Michael Foale and cosmonaut Alexander Kalari cut short their spacewalk from the International Space Station Thursday evening because of a cooling problem with Kalari's space suit.
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EARLIER STORY
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Scientists watch neutron star explosion in real time
A neutron star halfway across the Milky Way galaxy is ready for its close-up. A rare and massive explosion on this star illuminated the region and allowed scientists to view details never seen before, virtually bringing the scientists to the action occurring just a few miles above the star's surface.
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Missile warning satellite launched by Titan 4B rocket
The U.S. military's newest orbiting sentry was successfully deployed Feb. 14, joining a space surveillance system that maintains a constant vigil 22,300 miles above Earth to detect enemy missile launches and nuclear weapon detonations.
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MISSION STATUS CENTER
PREVIOUS TITAN 4 LAUNCH COVERAGE
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VIDEO: THE DSP SATELLITE UNDERGOES LAUNCH PREPS QT
VIDEO: DSP-22 MOUNTED ATOP ROCKET AT LAUNCH PAD QT
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF DSP SATELLITE IN SPACE QT

VIDEO: TITAN 4 ROCKET BACKS OUT OF SMARF BUILDING QT
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Giant black hole destroys unlucky star
A super-massive black hole has ripped apart a star and consumed a portion of it, according to data from ESA's XMM-Newton and NASA's Chandra X-ray observatories. These results are the best evidence yet that such a phenomenon, long predicted by theory, does actually happen.
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2005 budget to fuel NASA's new exploration plan
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe presented the Bush Administration's fiscal year 2005 budget
proposal on Feb. 3. The spending plan would implement the new U.S. space exploration policy.
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Stardust sailing through calm after cometary storm
"On January 2, comet Wild 2 gave up its particles but it did not do so without a fight," says Stardust project manager Tom Duxbury. "Our data indicates we flew through sheets of cometary particles that jostled the spacecraft and that on at least 10 occasions the first layer of our shielding was breached. Glad we had a couple more layers of the stuff."
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Scientists elated with comet flyby results
The Stardust probe flew through at least two significant jets of debris during its approach to comet Wild 2 Friday and captured a stunning image of the comet's icy heart showing overlapping pits and depressions where material boiled off in the past.
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SEE IMAGES
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Stardust intercepts comet to gather samples
Blasted by icy particles striking at 4 miles per second -- six times faster than a rifle bullet -- NASA's armored Stardust probe flew within 150 miles of a 3-mile-wide comet Friday, capturing primordial debris left over from the birth of the solar system 4.2 billion years ago.
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MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
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VIDEO: STARDUST SURVIVES CLOSEST APPROACH TO COMET QT
VIDEO: FIRST IMAGES RELEASED AT NEWS CONFERENCE QT

VIDEO: PRE-ENCOUNTER INTERVIEW WITH PROGRAM MANAGER QT
VIDEO: MISSION PLANNER DESCRIBES STARDUST'S CHALLENGES QT
VIDEO: DESCRIPTION OF THE STARDUST SCIENCE PROGRAM QT
VIDEO: REPORT ON THE STARDUST SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS QT
VIDEO: INTERVIEW EXPLAINS STARDUST'S CAMERA SYSTEM QT
VIDEO: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXOTIC AEROGEL MATERIAL QT
VIDEO: AN INTERVIEW WITH STARDUST'S NAVIGATOR QT
VIDEO: A LOOK AHEAD TO DEEP IMPACT COMET MISSION QT

VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF THE SEVEN-YEAR STARDUST MISSION QT
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF STARDUST COLLECTING COMET SAMPLES QT
VIDEO: STARDUST RETURNS TO EARTH AND PARACHUTES TO UTAH QT
VIDEO: ENCOUNTER DETAILED BY 39-MINUTE NEWS CONFERENCE QT
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Upgraded satellite en route to GPS constellation
With a flash of blinding light, a $45 million replacement craft began its thunderous trek toward the U.S. military's Global Positioning System constellation Sunday morning aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket.
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LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY
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First images from Spitzer Space Telescope unveiled
NASA unveiled the first images from the $670 million Spitzer Space Telescope Thursday, spectacular infrared glimpses of the optically-hidden heart of a distant galaxy, the dusty cradle of an infant solar system and a peek at heretofore unseen stars lurking inside a vast cloud of gas and dust.
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NASA's last Great Observatory renamed
The Space Infrared Telescope Facility has been renamed the Spitzer Space Telescope. It was named in honor of the late Dr. Lyman Spitzer Jr., one of the 20th century's most distinguished scientists.
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SPITZER BIOGRAPHY
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Atlas rocket launches on Centennial of Flight
A century after man made the first powered flight -- the Wright brothers' historic achievement that set in motion the realization of aviation and spaceflight dreams -- an American rocket with a Russian-made engine soared successfully Wednesday to put a communications satellite high above Earth.
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MISSION STATUS CENTER
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VIDEO: THE LAUNCH AS SEEN THROUGH T+PLUS 5 MINUTES QT
VIDEO: AN OVERVIEW OF UHF FOLLOW-ON SATELLITE PROGRAM QT
VIDEO: NARRATED ANIMATION PREVIEW OF THIS LAUNCH QT
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF UHF F11 SATELLITE IN SPACE QT
VIDEO: LOOK BACK AT PAST ATLAS LAUNCHES OF UHF CRAFT QT
VIDEO: PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH AT KITTY HAWK QT
VIDEO: SPACE STATION CREW MARKS CENTENNIAL QT
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International Space Station crew busy with science
The Expedition 8 -- Mike Foale and Alexander Kaleri -- have wrapped up a busy week aboard the International Space Station. ISS activities included scientific experiments ranging from behavior of plasma dust subjected to radio waves in a vacuum to investigation of stresses on the feet and legs during spaceflight.
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NASA cites progress in earthquake research
Nearly 10 years after Los Angeles was shaken by the devastating, magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake, scientists at NASA and other institutions say maturing space-based technologies, new ground-based techniques and more complex computer models are rapidly advancing our understanding of earthquakes and earthquake processes.
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Stormy space weather slips through cracks
Immense cracks in Earth's magnetic field remain open for hours, allowing the solar wind to gush through and power stormy space weather, according to new observations from NASA and European satellites. This new discovery about how the Earth's magnetic shield is breached is expected
to help space physicists give better estimates of the effects of severe space weather.
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Tribute to CAIB
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board and NASA employees involved in the search to find what brought down the shuttle were honored December 3, as seen in this ceremony from NASA Headquarters.
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Mars rover briefing
NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers will reach the Red Planet in January. Mission officials and scientists held this pre-landing news conference to preview the dramatic arrivals.
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Station crew interviewed
International Space Station residents Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri are interviewed by Charles Osgood, Bill Harwood and Peter King of CBS on December 2.
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Atlas rocket successfully soars on secret mission
A Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket carried out a clandestine mission in the predawn darkness Tuesday, deploying into space what is believed to be a package of ocean surveillance satellites to aid the U.S. government track suspicious ships in the global fight against terrorism.
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GROUND TRACK MAP
RL10 ENGINE MARKS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE
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Shuttle Enterprise arrives at Smithsonian museum
The space shuttle Enterprise, NASA's prototype orbiter that performed landing tests in the 1970s, on Thursday was moved to the National Air and Space Museum's new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center where it joins other famous aircraft for the facility's opening next month.
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International Space Station marks five years in orbit
Five years ago Thursday the first piece of the International Space Station was launched into orbit. The Russian Zarya control module was carried aloft by a Proton rocket, beginning the complex sequence of space missions to assemble the orbiting laboratory.
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Heavy-lifting version of Delta 4 to take test flight
In a Cape Canaveral hangar, a rocket of monstrous proportions and power is taking shape. It will be unveiled next month, rolling to the launch pad to prepare for a demonstration flight that will test its knack for lofting hefty cargos into orbit and potentially one day ferrying humans to the space station.
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Station progress report
The Expedition 8 crew is one-month into its half-year mission aboard the International Space Station. On on November 19, NASA officials provided a space station status briefing, including details about an upcoming spacewalk, delays in launching the next resupply ship and scientific research aboard the outpost. Spaceflight Now Plus users can watch the entire 60-minute briefing.
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NASA provides update on shuttle return-to-flight
Space shuttle program officials on November 18 gave a progress report on NASA's return-to-flight efforts, speaking on tile and RCC repair issues, orbiter inspections in space and training simulations for the Mission Management Team. Spaceflight Now Plus users can watch the entire 45-minute briefing.
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Skylab residents call International Space Station
In a chat November 10 between space station residents of today and yesteryear, the Expedition 8 crew aboard the International Space Station talked about their orbiting home with two astronauts who lived on Skylab three decades ago.
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NASA increases return-to-flight shuttle crew to seven
Two space veterans and a rookie have joined four other astronauts already training as the crew for NASA's first post-Columbia space shuttle mission, now targeted for launch next September.
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Voyager approaching solar system's outer limits
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft is about to make history again. It is the first spacecraft to enter the solar system's final frontier, a vast expanse where wind from the sun blows hot against thin gas between the stars: interstellar space.
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Columbia crew added to Space Mirror memorial
The names of Columbia's seven fallen astronauts from the STS-107 mission have been added to the Space Mirror at Kennedy Space Center. The monument pays tribute to those space heroes who gave their lives for the U.S. space program. The 45-minute ceremony from October 28 is available to Spaceflight Now Plus users:
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Russian capsule safely ferries station crew to Earth
After six months of circling the Earth inside the International Space Station, Expedition 7 crewmembers Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu returned home October 27 aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule. They were joined by European researcher Pedro Duque. Landing in Kazakhstan occurred as planned.
MISSION STATUS CENTER - live coverage
ENTRY AND LANDING OVERVIEW
MAP OF THE SOYUZ LANDING ZONE
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VIDEO: MONDAY'S UNDOCKING OF SOYUZ FROM THE STATION QT
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VIDEO: SOYUZ LANDS IN KAZAKHSTAN AS SEEN FROM HELICOPTER QT
VIDEO: SCENES OF THE CREW AFTER EXITING THE SOYUZ QT
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VIDEO: CAPSULE'S PARACHUTE DRAPED ACROSS DESERT FLOOR QT
VIDEO: POST-TOUCHDOWN STATUS REPORT FROM NASA QT
VIDEO: NASA PROVIDES STATUS OF THE CREW QT
VIDEO: POST-LANDING INTERVIEW WITH NASA'S ISS MANAGER QT
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT TALKS ABOUT LANDING AND THE FUTURE QT

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VIDEO: PROFILES OF YURI MALENCHENKO AND ED LU QT
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Five-segment shuttle solid rocket booster test fired
The most powerful Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor ever tested pushed beyond typical launch performance boundaries at a Utah test facility Thursday. The five-segment test motor, which ran for 128 seconds and generated more than 3.6 million pounds of thrust, appeared to perform flawlessly.
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Space station residents say conditions safe
Despite media reports of some NASA managers voting against launching the Expedition 8 crew to the International Space Station due to broken environmental monitoring and exercise equipment, the astronauts said October 23 during an in-flight news conference that they are not worried about the situation, calling the reports "overblown."
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Station crew will miss the views, but ready for landing
After six months of circling the Earth inside the International Space Station, Expedition 7 commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA science officer Ed Lu are preparing to return home Monday night aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule.
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New station residents arrive at their orbiting home
Two men who know what it's like to live in orbit for months at a time safely arrived at the International Space Station October 20 for a half-year tour-of-duty. Riding inside a Russian Soyuz capsule, the Expedition 8 crew docked to the station at 0716 GMT (3:16 a.m. EDT).
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New crew launches to space station
American, Russian and Spanish astronauts set sail to the International Space Station on October 18, safely rocketing into Earth orbit atop a Soyuz launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Central Asia.
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VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NASA ADMINISTRATOR QT
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VIDEO: FRIDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE FROM BAIKONUR QT
VIDEO: FINAL ASSEMBLY OF SOYUZ ROCKET QT
VIDEO: SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLS TO PAD THURSDAY QT
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VIDEO: EXPEDITION 8 MISSION PREVIEW BRIEFING QT
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New crew poised to keep human presence on station
The Expedition 8 crew blasts off early Saturday aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket to keep the International Space Station staffed with full-time "caretakers" while construction of the orbiting lab remains suspended by NASA's grounded space shuttle fleet. Launch is scheduled for 0538 GMT (1:38 a.m. EDT).
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