Atlantis returns to Earth where it could stay forever
Space shuttle Atlantis safely returned to the homeport Wednesday after the final planned voyage in its quarter-century of spaceflight. The vehicle's rich history included 294 days in space, 4,648 orbits of the planet and 120 million miles traveled during 32 flights. Whether NASA gives Atlantis one more mission next year remains unknown, meaning this landing could have been the orbiter's last before retirement.
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Congress, White House mull extra space shuttle flight
A key NASA supporter in Congress is beginning a formal push for an extra space shuttle flight, as NASA officials prepare to present options to top Obama administration officials next month.
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How does NASA train pilots to land the space shuttle?
Landing the space shuttle is the pinnacle of the piloting profession. Commanders go to great lengths to practice for their five minutes of glory, when astronauts take over manual control of the unpowered shuttle and perform a one-shot approach and landing with a dead stick.
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Awe-inspiring views of shuttle Atlantis' launch
Onboard rocket camera footage always dazzles and the video from Atlantis' external fuel tank and solid boosters didn't disappoint during the afternoon blastoff May 14. A camera mounted in the pilot's window looking outward also provides an amazing view of the spacecraft rocketing toward orbit, which is presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users with launch audio.
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Space shuttle crew prepares for Wednesday's landing
The Atlantis astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems early Tuesday and packed for a Florida landing Wednesday, weather permitting, to close out a successful space station assembly mission, the orbiter's 32nd and final planned flight.
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Astronauts check Atlantis heat shield one more time
The Atlantis astronauts completed a final inspection of the shuttle's carbon composite nose cap and wing leading edge panels Monday to make sure the ship's most critical heat shield components were not damaged by orbital debris of micrometeoroids since a similar inspection the day after launch.
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Flawless shuttle visit to station a thing of beauty
Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station on Sunday, leaving after a week of intensive work to advance the orbiting laboratory. The astronauts expanded the outpost by installing a new Russian module, and did it using an untried and uncertain method that ultimately worked without a hitch. A trio of spacewalks also occurred for the betterment of the station, renewing the oldest section of the electrical power system by replacing a half-dozen giant batteries and creating a backup route of communications with the ground by mounting a sizable antenna atop the complex.
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Cargo pallet returned to Atlantis from space station
Astronauts Piers Sellers and Garrett Reisman, operating the space station's robot arm, moved a cargo pallet loaded with old solar array batteries back to the shuttle Atlantis' cargo bay Saturday for the ride back to Earth.
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Spacewalkers give station new six-pack of batteries
Astronauts Mike Good and Garrett Reisman performed the final spacewalk of shuttle Atlantis' mission Friday, finishing the laborious job of replacing the International Space Station's decade-old solar array batteries with a half-dozen fresh power packs.
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Astronauts thrilled with progress of shuttle mission
The commander of the shuttle Atlantis says his crew is "elated" with the progress of their mission to the International Space Station, including two complex-but-successful spacewalks and the problem-free attachment of a new Russian module.
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Smooth spacewalk tackles planned work and more
Astronauts Steve Bowen and Mike Good logged a seven-hour spacewalk Wednesday, the first of two devoted to replacing six of the International Space Station's oldest solar array batteries. They also untangled a cable on Atlantis' inspection boom sensor and finished deploying the station's new Ku-band communications antenna.
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New module supports station science and spacecraft
The International Space Station expanded Tuesday when the shuttle Atlantis' astronauts successfully installed Rassvet, a new module doubling as a docking compartment for receiving Russian spacecraft and a mini laboratory for science. The robotic arm plugged the 18,000-pound payload into the Zarya module at 8:19 a.m. and the docking mechanism permanently secured Rassvet at 8:30 a.m. EDT.
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Spacewalking handymen add new features to the station
Spacewalkers Garrett Reisman and Steve Bowen followed the instructions of "some assembly required" to erect a boom and attach a six-foot-diameter high-speed communications dish antenna atop the International Space Station, then gave Canada's Dextre robot an equipment holder during the first EVA of the Atlantis mission.
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Recovery ships return Atlantis boosters to port
A few hours after Atlantis docked with the International Space Station, two ships towed the shuttle's twin solid rocket boosters back into port Sunday evening. The reusable motors were recovered 140 miles off the Florida coast after Atlantis' launch Friday afternoon.
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This Week In Space
Join Miles O'Brien, David Waters and astronaut Leroy Chiao at the Kennedy Space Center for a complete wrap up of the final scheduled launch of space shuttle Atlantis. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.
Space station's Harmony port receives shuttle Atlantis
Sailing in orbit on its retirement voyage Sunday, Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station for one final visit to help build a bigger, better outpost. The space shuttle is delivering a new Russian module, communications antenna and fresh power packs for the electrical grid.
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Astronauts resort to Plan B for inspecting Atlantis
The Atlantis astronauts used a less-capable backup sensor system to inspect the shuttle's carbon composite nose cap and wing leading edge panels Saturday after an overly-tight cable prevented them from using a more sophisticated, steerable sensor package.
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An astronaut's first ride on Atlantis way back in '85
Seven-time shuttle flier Jerry Ross, who took five of his trips into Earth orbit aboard Atlantis, recently recounted in vivid detail the incredible thrill of blasting off.
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Saying goodbye to shuttles is future's only certainty
And then there were three. Just three flights remain for the space shuttle, a sobering reminder of the tumultuous times surrounding America's space program.
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Apollo legends question commercialized spaceflight
Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan, the last man on the moon, told lawmakers Wednesday the Obama administration's plan to shift near-term manned spaceflight from NASA to private industry could result in a 10-year gap between the end of the shuttle program and the debut of reliable commercial rockets. FULL STORY
Mission preview: Atlantis to launch Russian mini module
The shuttle Atlantis' three-spacewalk flight to the International Space Station will install a new Russian module, a backup Ku-band dish antenna and six massive batteries. This is our 5,300-word mission preview. FULL STORY
Respecting Atlantis as the shuttle faces retirement
Whether it was launching satellites to orbit our planet and even other worlds, breathing new life into humanity's telescope, fostering international relationships or building a laboratory in the sky, the space shuttle Atlantis has been a workhorse for mankind over the past 25 years. FULL STORY
Does shuttle Atlantis have one extra flight in her?
Could space shuttle Atlantis get a reprieve from retirement and fly again next year to truck a load of supplies to the International Space Station?
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Station crew clears the path for space shuttle mission
The International Space Station residents moved their Soyuz capsule from one docking port to another Wednesday morning, freeing up the spot where space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts will install the new Rassvet module next Tuesday.
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Countdown clocks start ticking for Friday's launch
The countdown began Tuesday for launch of the shuttle Atlantis at 2:20 p.m. EDT Friday on its final planned mission. Weather forecasters are predicting favorable conditions at the Kennedy Space Center.
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Meet the humorous guys flying on shuttle Atlantis
The six jovial guys who will take space shuttle Atlantis on the orbiter's final scheduled voyage are an entertaining bunch and having fun is one their mission priorities.
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NASA declares Atlantis is ready to go fly next week
Space shuttle Atlantis has been cleared for its 32nd and final planned flight, a three-spacewalk mission that will deliver a Russian module, a large communications antenna and fresh batteries to the International Space Station. Blastoff is set for May 14 at 2:20 p.m. EDT.
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Ground controllers open stuck valve on space station
After extended troubleshooting, space station flight controllers successfully coaxed open a stuck nitrogen tank valve Friday, finally re-pressurizing an ammonia coolant loop serviced during the shuttle Discovery's recently completed mission. FULL STORY
Russian payload nestled into Atlantis' bay for launch
A new Russian module for the International Space Station that will double as a docking compartment and a room for science has been loaded aboard the space shuttle Atlantis at the launch pad 39A for the scheduled May 14 blastoff.
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Atlantis astronauts climb aboard for countdown test
Kennedy Space Center's launch control room and pad 39A were abuzz Saturday morning as the space shuttle team and the six Atlantis astronauts conducted a realistic countdown dress rehearsal for next month's flight.
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Russian station module moves to shuttle launch pad
While shuttle Atlantis was inside the Vehicle Assembly Building getting hooked up with its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, the mission's payloads drove by the landmark facility Thursday evening en route to the launch pad.
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Hang 'em high: Atlantis goes for crane ride inside VAB
Hours after it rolled into the Vehicle Assembly Building, the shuttle Atlantis was lifted off its transporter and hoisted high into the landmark facility for mating with a waiting fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Spaceflight Now captured the overnight operation in these breathtaking photo galleries.
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Atlantis rolls to assembly building for flight preps
Space shuttle Atlantis departed the orbiter processing facility at Kennedy Space Center Tuesday morning. Mounted atop a trailer-like transporter, Atlantis was moved over to the Vehicle Assembly Building for mating to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in preparation to launch next month.
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Tank and boosters bolted together for May launch
Workers attached the shuttle Atlantis' orange external fuel tank to its solid rocket boosters Monday, accomplishing another key step before the ship's last scheduled blastoff May 14.
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American shuttle to launch Russian space module
Inside a building at Port Canaveral where commercial American space habitation modules once readied for flight, a hundred Russian specialists have taken up residence to prepare their hardware for launch to the International Space Station.
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Atlantis' last external fuel tank reaches launch site
The external fuel tank for space shuttle Atlantis' final flight arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday to begin preparations for launch in May.
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SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SAFELY LANDS 
