News Archive

Astronauts install antennas for commercial crew capsules

Astronauts Terry Virts and space station commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore ventured back outside Sunday for their third spacewalk in eight days to complete initial preparations for upcoming dockings by commercially developed Boeing and SpaceX crew ferry ships.

On This Date…March 1

A mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope blasted off on this date in 2002.

NASA approves Sunday spacewalk

International Space Station managers Friday cleared astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Terry Virts to proceed with a third spacewalk Sunday, as originally planned, after concluding a small amount of water in Virts' space helmet after an EVA Wednesday was an understood condition and not a threat to crew safety.

On This Date…Feb. 28

Successful spacewalk ends with water leak

Astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Terry Virts floated outside the International Space Station Wednesday for the second of three spacewalks to help ready the complex for dockings by commercial crew capsules. Back inside the station's airlock, Virts reported a small amount of water in his space helmet, but officials said he was not in any danger.

Falcon Heavy rocket hangar rises at launch pad 39A

SpaceX began erecting a new hangar at a former space shuttle launch pad in Florida last week, moving the historic facility closer to launching astronauts again.

On This Date…

Photos from this weekend’s spacewalk

Check out photos taken by two astronauts who ventured outside the International Space Station on Saturday, running more than 300 feet of wiring that will eventually be connected to new docking ports to receive commercial spaceships built by Boeing and SpaceX.

ATV’s re-entry camera returned no images

A camera packed inside Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle failed to transmit images from inside the disposable supply ship as it plunged through Earth's atmosphere Feb. 15 and broke apart over the South Pacific Ocean, the European Space Agency said Friday.

Astronauts prep space station for commercial capsules

Astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Terry Virts floated outside the International Space Station Saturday and installed wiring needed for two new docking mechanisms that will be attached later this year for use by Boeing and SpaceX crew capsules.