Spaceflight Now




STS-114 Top Stories

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.
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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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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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Iffy weather delays shuttle landing until Tuesday
Uncertainty about dynamic weather at the Kennedy Space Center forced entry flight director LeRoy Cain to pass up two landing opportunities today and to keep the shuttle Discovery's crew in orbit an extra 24 hours.
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   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
   PREVIEW STORY
   ENTRY AND LANDING TIMELINE
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VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS TOLD LANDING IS SCRUBBED MONDAY PLAY
VIDEO: FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY WAVED OFF PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING PREVIEW BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
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Discovery heads for predawn touchdown
Shuttle commander Eileen Collins and pilot James Kelly tested Discovery's re-entry systems today while their crewmates packed up for landing Monday at the Kennedy Space Center. Landing is expected around 4:46:44 a.m., closing out a voyage spanning 5.3 million miles and 201 complete orbits since blastoff July 26.
   FULL STORY
   ENTRY AND LANDING TIMELINE
   GROUND TRACK MAP
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VIDEO: LANDING PREVIEW BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
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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.
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   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
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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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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.
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VIDEO: COMBO MISSION STATUS/MANAGEMENT BRIEFING DIAL-UP |
   BROADBAND PART 1 & 2
VIDEO: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING ASTRONAUT TRIBUTE PLAY
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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.
   VIDEO: PLAY QUICKTIME
   AUDIO: DOWNLOAD MP3
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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VIDEO: MANAGEMENT NEWS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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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
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
   PREVIEW STORY
   IMAGES: GAP FILLERS REMOVED
   IMAGES: SIMULATED VIEWS OF SPACEWALK
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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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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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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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VIDEO: OFFICIALS EXPLAIN DECISION 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.
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   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
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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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NASA ponders spacewalk repair work on shuttle
Engineers are considering what, if anything, to do about two protruding "gap fillers" on the belly of the space shuttle Discovery that could trigger increased re-entry turbulence and localized, potentially dangerous, heating if they are left as is.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE STATUS BRIEFING MP3 FILE
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Rocket booster cameras offer dazzling views
When space shuttle Discovery launched its two solid-fuel booster rockets were equipped with video cameras. Although not seen live, that footage has been recovered from the spent boosters after they were retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean. The video includes dramatic coverage of separation from the external fuel tank and splashdown in the sea.
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VIDEO: LEFT-HAND BOOSTER SEPARATION FROM TANK PLAY
VIDEO: LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CHUTE DEPLOY AND SPLASHDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: FULL CLIP FROM LEFT-HAND BOOSTER PLAY
VIDEO: RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER SEPARATION FROM TANK PLAY
VIDEO: RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER SPLASHDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: FULL CLIP FROM RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER PLAY
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Shuttle mission extended to give bonus day at station
NASA's mission management team Saturday extended the shuttle Discovery's flight by one day, giving the astronauts more time to assist and resupply the international space station's two-man crew, and concluded the shuttle's heat-shield tiles and insulation blankets are fit for a normal re-entry Aug. 8.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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First spacewalk of the mission meets all objectives
Astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi wrapped up a smooth spacewalk Saturday, testing heat-shield repair techniques, hot wiring one of the space station's gyroscopes and mounting an attachment device that later will hold a large external tool kit and spare parts box.
   FULL STORY
   HEAT SHIELD REPAIR TESTS
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
Griffin doesn't rule out quick resumption of flights
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin mounted a spirited defense of the shuttle program and the beleaguered external tank project Friday, saying virtually all of NASA's post-Columbia improvements to the huge tank worked as expected during Discovery's launching Tuesday. He said the space agency was not yet ready to rule out another shuttle flight before the end of the year.
   FULL STORY
Shuttle commander says foam problem must be fixed
The shuttle Discovery's crew was surprised and disappointed to learn about foam insulation falling off their ship's external tank during launch. Commander Eileen Collins said Friday the shuttle program should remain grounded until the problem is fixed, but she said talk of retiring the winged spaceplanes is premature.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE STATUS BRIEFING MP3 FILE
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Timing of foam loss saved Discovery from big hit
The shuttle Discovery's crew might have dodged a bullet when a piece of foam debris broke away from an aerodynamic ramp on the side of the ship's external fuel tank during launch Tuesday. Had the foam broken away earlier, when the shuttle was deeper in Earth's atmosphere, the chunk could have hit the orbiter with potentially catastrophic results, engineers said Thursday.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND 1 & 2
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Discovery does pirouette, then docks to space station
Commander Eileen Collins guided the space shuttle Discovery to a picture-perfect docking with the international space station today, a major milestone in a mission now overshadowed by a crisis of confidence in NASA after the grounding of the shuttle fleet Wednesday.
   FULL STORY - (photos added)
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
   DOCKING TIMELINE
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Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: TODAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
AUDIO: LISTEN TO TODAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING MP3 FILE
VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL FOR DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: COMMANDER COLLINS GUIDES DISCOVERY TO DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S BACKFLIP AS SEEN FROM STATION PLAY
VIDEO: STATION CAMERAS SEE SHUTTLE'S APPROACH FROM BELOW PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE PULLS IN FRONT OF STATION FOR DOCKING PLAY

VIDEO: CREW'S CAMCORDER VIDEO OF JETTISONED FUEL TANK PLAY
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Foam loss must be fixed before shuttle flies again
In a major setback for NASA, senior managers Wednesday grounded the shuttle fleet, saying no more missions will be launched until engineers figure out why large, potentially catastrophic pieces of foam insulation broke away from the shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank during launch Tuesday.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: VIEWS OF TANK WITH MISSING FOAM
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VIDEO: NASA GROUNDS SHUTTLE PROGRAM DIALUP
  BROADBAND VERSION: PART 1 & PART 2
AUDIO: LISTEN TO PROGRAM NEWS CONFERENCE FOR IPOD
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
VIDEO: SHUTTLE FUEL TANK HITS BIRD AT LIFTOFF PLAY
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Sensor boom checks shuttle's wings and nose
The Discovery astronauts performed a detailed inspection of the shuttle's reinforced carbon carbon nose cap and wing leading edge panels Wednesday. The post-Columbia safety survey is designed to spot any entry-critical damage to the areas of the shuttle that experience the most extreme heating during the return to Earth.
   PREVIEW STORY
   CREW TIMELINE
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VIDEO: ANIMATION PREVIEWS WING AND NOSE INSPECTIONS PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S TAIL AND PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: NOSE CAP INSPECTED BY SENSOR BOOM PLAY
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NASA studying chipped tile, debris from fuel tank
The shuttle Discovery, carrying seven astronauts, critical space station supplies and the hopes of a nation, rocketed into orbit Tuesday in a nerve-wracking bid to revive America's human space program two-and-a-half years after the Columbia disaster. But at least two pieces of debris seen falling from the shuttle shortly after launch brought back haunting memories of Columbia, prompting intensive analysis to determine what, if any, threat they might pose.
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   IMAGES: BIRD HIT, TILE AND TANK DEBRIS
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VIDEO: AMAZING WB-57 AERIAL LAUNCH VIDEO NORTH | SOUTH PLANE
VIDEO: OFFICIALS DESCRIBE DEBRIS EVENTS PLAY
AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE DEBRIS DESCRIPTION FOR IPOD

VIDEO: LAUNCH OF DISCOVERY! SHORTER | LONGER
VIDEO: FOOTAGE OF OBJECT BREAKING FREE FROM TANK PLAY
VIDEO: TANK-MOUNTED CAMERA SHOWS ENTIRE LAUNCH SMALL | LARGE
VIDEO: ONBOARD CAMERA VIEW OF TANK SEPARATION PLAY
VIDEO: LIFTOFF AS SEEN FROM PAD WATER TOWER PLAY
VIDEO: SIDE VIEW OF DISCOVERY'S LIFTOFF PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL LAUNCH FOOTAGE FROM PAD'S FRONT SIDE PLAY
VIDEO: TRACKING CAMERA LOCATED ON BEACH MOUND PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH MOVIE FROM THE PRESS SITE PLAY
VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY

VIDEO: COMMANDER COLLINS BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: PILOT KELLY CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST NOGUCHI BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST ROBINSON BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST THOMAS BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST LAWRENCE BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST CAMARDA BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39B PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DEPART QUARTERS FOR PAD PLAY
VIDEO: CREW DONS LAUNCH SPACESUITS PART 1 | PART 2
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS GATHER FOR PRE-LAUNCH SNACK PLAY

VIDEO: PAD'S ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE ROLLED BACK PLAY
VIDEO: TIME LAPSE MOVIE OF SERVICE STRUCTURE ROLLBACK PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S COUNTDOWN UPDATE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE COUNTDOWN UPDATE FOR IPOD

MORE: SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT VIDEO LISTING

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Status Summary

See the Status Center for full play-by-play coverage.