The trailblazing prototype for the space shuttle fleet, the Enterprise, was hauled Friday atop a modified Boeing 747 to New York City where it will become a new exhibit aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, a vintage aircraft carrier turned museum anchored in the Hudson River.
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Discovery enters Smithsonian as historic relic of bygone era
The most-flown spaceship in human history, sailing on 39 voyages to deploy and retrieve satellites, open a new window on the universe by launching the Hubble Space Telescope and help to construct the International Space Station, the shuttle orbiter Discovery reached her final resting place Thursday at the Smithsonian.
The space shuttle orbiter Discovery, part of Kennedy Space Center's heart and soul for three decades, departed the Florida spaceport forever Tuesday morning en route to become a museum exhibit at the Smithsonian's annex in Northern Virginia.
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Space shuttle ferryflight to Smithsonian ready for takeoff
Now perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Discovery emerged from the crane gantry this morning to spend the final day at the place she called home for three decades.
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DISCOVERY ROLLS TO RUNWAY FOR FERRYFLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
SHUTTLE CARRIER AIRCRAFT ARRIVES @ KSC PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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A windy Saturday morning interview with Stephanie Stilson, a long-time space shuttle Discovery official at Kennedy Space Center and now manager of all the orbiters' retirement activities.
Shuttle Discovery mounted atop 747 carrier jet
The very same aircraft that delivered Discovery from her California manufacturing plant in Palmdale to the Kennedy Space Center in 1983 was topped by the orbiter Sunday morning to prepare for Tuesday's ferryflight to the orbiter's museum display site outside Washington, D.C.
Public can get up-close view of shuttle ferryflight takeoff
Talk about access! Space shuttle fans have a unique opportunity to buy front-row seats at Kennedy Space Center's runway to watch Discovery depart the spaceport atop the 747 carrier jet Tuesday morning.
FULL STORY
Discovery rolls to runway, winds delay 747 mating
In the predawn darkness Saturday, the shuttle Discovery moved ever closer to leaving her home port forever as remaining technicians towed the decommissioned spaceplane to the runway ramp for mounting atop the 747 carrier jet. However, strong winds stalled plans to hoist the orbiter off the ground until Sunday.
The modified Boeing 747 jumbojet that will haul the space shuttle Discovery piggyback-style to the Smithsonian next week flew across the country to Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday to pick up the spaceplane passenger.
Discovery leaves hangar to await April 17 ferryflight
Exactly one year to the day since returning from her final spaceflight and now ready for public display at the Smithsonian, the most-flown space shuttle orbiter was rolled from the Kennedy Space Center hangar and placed into temporary storage at the Vehicle Assembly Building today.
'Sporty' weather greeted Discovery on final landing
When the shuttle Discovery swooped back to the Kennedy Space Center a year ago Friday to conclude the spaceship's flying days, commander Steve Lindsey was dealt some of the most challenging weather conditions ever experienced during an orbiter landing.
Experience a space shuttle launch like never before
These slow-motion films capture the awe-inspiring sight of a space shuttle blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center on one of the program's final missions, Discovery soaring skyward in February headed for the International Space Station. The amazing videos are presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users.
The space shuttle Discovery, undergoing her retirement and transition to museum status at the Kennedy Space Center, has been outfitted with hollowed thruster and rocket pods, replicas of the main engines, the payload bay doors sealed up and the emotional moment of being powered down for the final time. We take a look back at all of those events in this video package presented for Spaceflight Now+Plus users.
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FERRYFLIGHT TAIL CONE PUT IN PLACE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
MAIN ENGINE "EYE LIDS" INSTALLED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
EMOTIONS AFTER FINAL POWERDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
DISCOVERY POWERED OFF FINAL TIME PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PAYLOAD BAY DOORS SWING SHUT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
REPLICA MAIN ENGINES INSERTED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' MIDDECK KITCHEN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NOSE THRUSTER PIECE INSTALLED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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Ferryflight tail cone put onto shuttle Discovery
The aerodynamic tail cone to cover space shuttle Discovery's main engines and provide a smooth airflow during the piggyback ride atop the modified Boeing 747 carrier jet to the Smithsonian in April was installed onto the orbiter this week.
Shuttle Discovery's historic payload bay goes dark
After deploying 21 satellites from expansive confines, including the Hubble Space Telescope, commercial spacecraft and military eavesdroppers, hosting scientific platforms and hauling key pieces of the International Space Station, the payload bay of space shuttle Discovery was closed and locked as the spacecraft was powered off for the final time Friday.
Discovery getting replica engines for Smithsonian
In preparation for displaying the space shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, technicians began installing replica main engines on Monday.
PHOTO GALLERY
Two shuttle orbiters face off on road to retirement duty
Two space shuttle orbiters swapped places at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday as NASA prepares the retired spaceships for public display in museums. The unique morning climaxed with a nose-to-nose photo opportunity with Discovery and Endeavour.
The space shuttle Discovery on Wednesday morning made her first public appearance outside the hangar since being retired, emerging without any main engines, nose thrusters or aft rocket pods. Seeing the stripped down orbiter with a gaping hole in the nose was a harsh reminder that the spaceship's flying days are over.
Technicians preparing the shuttle Discovery for public display say the retired spaceship will be ready to leave the Kennedy Space Center in February for its new home at a Smithsonian museum annex near Washington.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden unveiled which museums will house the retired space shuttle vehicles during a ceremony Tuesday on the 30th anniversary of the program's first launching. The future homes are: Discovery to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Atlantis to the Kennedy Space Center, Endeavour to California Science Center in Los Angeles and Enterprise to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
Main engines removed from retired shuttle Discovery
The cryogenic powerplants that propelled space shuttle Discovery on her final eight-and-a-half minute climb to orbit last month were removed from the spacecraft this week. Here's some photo galleries of the three-day process.
And so it begins. Technicians at the Kennedy Space Center have begun taking apart the shuttle Discovery, the ship now a laboratory specimen for engineering forensics before her future date with a museum.
Discovery's final landing marks beginning of the end
The shuttle Discovery made a graceful landing at Kennedy Space Center, returning from her final voyage after a remarkable three-decade life of service spanning 39 flights, 5,830 orbits of the planet, 365 days spent aloft and 148 million miles traveled. Discovery becomes NASA's first orbiter retired as the space shuttle fades into history over the next few months.
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SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LANDS FOR FINAL TIME PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS WELCOMED BACK TO EARTH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW INSPECT DISCOVERY ON RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
COMMENTS BY BOLDEN AND LINDSEY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
POST-FLIGHT CREW BRIEFING PLAY | HI-DEF
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LANDING REPLAYS: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY EAST PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY WEST PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY MID-FIELD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: PATRICK AFB TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
Shuttle astronauts reflect on the legacy of Discovery
On the eve of returning to Earth to close out the shuttle Discovery's 39th and final flight, the ship's crew said the nation should be proud of the shuttle program's accomplishments, but expressed concern that a replacement vehicle is not waiting in the wings to replace it.
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FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
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INTERVIEW WITH 3-TIME DISCOVERY FLIER PLAY VIDEO:
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Shuttle crew gets 'Star Trek' sendoff before undocking
The crew of the shuttle Discovery, awakened by actor William Shatner reading a "Star Trek" tribute marking the veteran spaceplane's final voyage, undocked from the International Space Station at 7 a.m. EST Monday to close out an extended assembly and resupply visit. The orbiter is scheduled to land on Wednesday.
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WILLIAM SHATNER TRIBUTE TO DISCOVERY HI-DEF
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FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
EXTRAORDINARY TIME-LAPSE OF STATION FLYAROUND PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF DISCOVERY DURING FLYAROUND PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM THE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
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NASA's humanoid Robonaut to be unpacked this month
A humanoid robot delivered to the space station by the shuttle Discovery should come out of its packing crate by the end of March, and ground crews could start tinkering with the Robonaut soon after. But it could be months before NASA trusts the robot to help astronauts do chores on the complex.
Shuttle crew bids farewell to space station residents
After transferring a final few items to and from the International Space Station -- and enjoying a bit of zero-gravity fun in a roomy new storage module -- the Discovery astronauts bid their station colleagues farewell Sunday, floating back aboard the orbiter to rig the ship for undocking early Monday to wrap up this shuttle's final visit.
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SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
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Crew services station's air purifier, oxygen generator
The Discovery astronauts and their space station counterparts continued unloading a newly attached storage module and successfully performed electronic surgery to bypass a short circuit in a U.S. carbon dioxide removal system. Station commander Scott Kelly also installed a filter in an oxygen generator and helped flight controllers test the refurbished system.
FLIGHT DAY 7: ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPACEWALK HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 7: ROBONAUT MOVED INTO DESTINY LAB HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 7: EXERCISING ON SHUTTLE'S BICYCLE HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 7: SPACESUIT LEAK FOUND AND FIXED HI-DEF
FLIGHT DAY 6: PREPS FOR SPACEWALK NO. 2 HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: THE SPACEWALKING TOOLS HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: MODIFYING STATION EQUIPMENT HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: FUN TIME FLOATING IN PMM HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: CREWS ENTER INTO THE MODULE HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: PMM HATCHWAY IS OPENED UP HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: OPENING PASSAGEWAY TO MODULE HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: NEW "PMM" MODULE ATTACHED TO STATION HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 6: BREAKFAST TIME ABOARD THE ORBITER HI-DEF
FLIGHT DAY 5: TIRED BUT HAPPY SPACEWALKERS HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 5: FLY SPACE STATION'S ROBOT ARM HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 5: CHOREOGRAPHING THE SPACEWALK HI-DEF FLIGHT DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS GET READY TO LEAVE HI-DEF
The Discovery astronauts Friday focused on unloading the newly attached Permanent Multipurpose Module, moving science gear and other equipment into the International Space Station and transferring packing material and unneeded gear to a Japanese cargo ship for disposal at the end of the month.
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CREW'S HOME MOVIES FROM FLIGHT DAY 5 PLAY
Onboard rocket camera footage always dazzles and the video from Discovery's external fuel tank and solid boosters didn't disappoint during the afternoon blastoff last week. 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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RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA: LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
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The Discovery astronauts worked through a busy morning in space Thursday, took the afternoon off and enjoyed a long-distance call from President Barack Obama, who praised NASA's oldest shuttle for a "critical and iconic" final flight to the International Space Station. NASA managers, meanwhile, decided to extend Discovery's mission a second day to give the crew more time to help unload a newly attached storage module.
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THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
DISCOVERY'S FLIGHT EXTENDED ANOTHER DAY PLAY VIDEO:
MSNBC, ATLANTA AND FOX RADIO INTERVIEWS WITH CREW PLAY VIDEO:
CNN, D.C., TAMPA, LOS ANGELES INTERVIEWS WITH CREW PLAY VIDEO:
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Spacewalk wrangles 'cats and dogs...no elephants'
Venturing outdoors from the International Space Station on Wednesday for their second of two EVAs during shuttle Discovery's mission, spacewalkers Steve Bowen and Al Drew successfully accomplished a long list of maintenance chores. The assorted collection of odds and ends was described as "cats and dogs but no elephants" because none of the various tasks were major.
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EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT BRACKET MOVED TO SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
RESIDUAL AMMONIA VENTED FROM FAILED PUMP PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY | HI-DEF
Special photo gallery from Discovery's final launch
Take another look back at the space shuttle Discovery's last launch with this beautiful series of photographs from NASA cameras around the Kennedy Space Center.
International Space Station gets a roomy float-in closet
An Italian-made module that will give the International Space Station a bonus room to help ease the outpost's storage woes was successfully installed Tuesday while flying 220 miles over the Sahara. The vessel is the modified Leonardo reusable cargo van that had visited the station seven times, but now it's a permanent fixture.
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'NO GO' FOR SPACE STATION PHOTO OP PLAY VIDEO:
PERMANENT MULTIPURPOSE MODULE ATTACHED PLAY VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM MANEUVERS MODULE TO ITS NEW HOME PLAY VIDEO:
STATION'S NEW MODULE UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES MODULE ABOARD DISCOVERY PLAY VIDEO:
ORBITAL SUNRISE OVER PMM BEFORE LEAVING SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF NEW MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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Spacewalkers tackle some unfinished business
Astronauts Steve Bowen and Al Drew went outside the International Space Station on Monday to accomplish last summer's leftover work of packing away a failed cooling pump and routing a power extension cable. Everything planned was accomplished during the 6-hour, 34-minute EVA that began early at 10:46 a.m. EST (1546 GMT) and concluded at 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 GMT).
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LAUNCH REPLAY: LOOKING OUT THE PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
DISCOVERY'S FLIGHT EXTENDED ONE DAY PLAY VIDEO:
EVA NO. 1 CONCLUDES PLAY VIDEO:
JAPANESE "MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" CAPTURES SPACE PLAY VIDEO:
FAILED PUMP COVERED UP WITH THERMAL BLANKET PLAY VIDEO:
GRAPPLE FIXTURE MOVED FROM PUMP TO OTHER SPARE PLAY VIDEO:
AMMONIA VENTING TOOLS ATTACHED TO FAILED PUMP PLAY VIDEO:
BOLTS ENGAGED TO HOLD OLD PUMP IN STORAGE BOX PLAY VIDEO:
FAILED PUMP MODULE FINALLY PUT INTO ENCLOSURE PLAY VIDEO:
ROBOT ARM SWINGS STEVE BOWEN AROUND THE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKER HOPS ABOARD STATION'S ROBOT ARM PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
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No time for Sunday rest as astronauts keep hectic pace
The Discovery astronauts worked through a busy day of robot arm activity Sunday, along with equipment transfers to the International Space Station and preparations for a spacewalk Monday by astronauts Al Drew and Steve Bowen, the first of two planned for the shuttle's final mission.
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FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
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SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 4 INSTALLED PLAY VIDEO:
SPACE STATION ARM INCH-WORMS TO NEW BASE PLAY VIDEO:
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SPARE PARTS PLATFORM HOISTED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO:
STATION ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES ELC 4 PALLET PLAY VIDEO:
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Discovery pulls into port for her final space station visit
Sailing in orbit on her last mission, Discovery arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday for a week-long stay to prepare the outpost for life after the space shuttles are retired. Just hours after docking, an outdoor pallet for stockpiling spare parts was hoisted from the shuttle payload bay and delivered to the station.
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SHUTTLE ARCS OUT IN FRONT OF SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
DISCOVERY PERFORMS THE 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY VIDEO:
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SHUTTLE DURING RENDEZVOUS PLAY VIDEO:
SPACECRAFT COMMANDERS TALK FROM AFAR PLAY VIDEO:
TERMINAL INITIATION BURN SEEN FROM STATION PLAY VIDEO:
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NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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Astronauts give Discovery full post-launch inspection
The Discovery astronauts have spent their first full day in space inspecting the shuttle's nose cap and wing leading edge panels for standard post-launch heat shield checks, testing equipment needed for upcoming spacewalks and preparing for Saturday's docking to the International Space Station.
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NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
GUIDED TOUR OF SHUTTLE'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF
The shuttle Discovery weighed anchor from the Florida spaceport and set sail on her final voyage at 4:53 p.m. EST (2153 GMT) Thursday, embarking with six astronauts for an 11-day journey to bring one last module to the International Space Station.
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FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
PAYLOAD BAY DOORS OPENED IN SPACE PLAY
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SHUTTLE DISCOVERY BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA: LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
AERIAL VIEWS AROUND THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
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ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF
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LOOK BACK AT THE LAUNCH DELAYS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
Countdown remains on track for Thursday's shuttle launch
The shuttle Discovery's countdown is ticking smoothly toward launch Thursday on a space station re-supply mission. There are no technical problems of any significance at pad 39A and forecasters are continuing to predict an 80 percent chance of good weather.
Mission preview: One final spaceflight for Discovery
Three-and-a-half months after the shuttle Discovery was grounded by potentially dangerous cracks in its external tank, the orbiter is finally back on track for launch Thursday to deliver critical spare parts, supplies and a final U.S. module to the International Space Station. This is our five-piece, 5,400-word mission preview.
The shuttle Discovery fliers: A crew of seasoned pros
A veteran astronaut crew with over a year of collective spaceflight experience has arrived at the Florida spaceport to begin final preps before taking the shuttle Discovery on its final voyage to orbit Thursday.
Shuttle Discovery cleared for launch next Thursday
NASA managers have given the "go" to launch shuttle Discovery next Thursday on a long-delayed space station resupply mission after an exhaustive review of ground processing and unprecedented external tank repairs to fix and prevent potentially dangerous cracks in the ship's external tank like those that derailed a launch try last November.
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DISCOVERY CLEARED FOR LAUNCH ON FEB. 24 PLAY
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STEVE BOWEN BEGINS CREW TRAINING PLAY | HI-DEF
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SUN RISES OVER SPACEPORT AFTER ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ARRIVES ATOP LAUNCH PAD 39A AGAIN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CROWDS CHEER ON DISCOVERY'S ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
DISCOVERY RE-EMERGES FROM THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH TEAM PRACTICES PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
NASA considers unique photo op during Discovery mission
Space station officials are considering the possibility of staging what might be considered the ultimate photo op during Discovery's mission to deliver critical supplies and a final U.S. module to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, NASA managers and contractors met Friday for a program-level flight readiness review for the upcoming shuttle mission.
Shuttle Discovery returns to launch pad after tank repairs
With the external tank repaired and strengthened, the space shuttle Discovery re-emerged from the Vehicle Assembly Building and returned to launch pad 39A overnight for a final pre-retirement mission to the International Space Station. Rollout began at 7:58 p.m. (0058 GMT) and was completed at 2:53 a.m. EST (0753 GMT).
Injured astronaut replaced on shuttle Discovery's crew
Less than six weeks before launch, astronaut Timothy Kopra, injured in a bicycle accident Saturday, was removed from the crew of the shuttle Discovery Wednesday and replaced by astronaut Stephen Bowen, a veteran spacewalker who flew aboard the shuttle Atlantis last May. Despite the last-minute crew change, NASA officials say Bowen should be able to complete a hurried round of refresher training in time for blastoff around Feb. 24 as planned.
Shuttle Discovery's lead spacewalker hurt in accident
Space station veteran Timothy Kopra, scheduled for launch Feb. 24 aboard the shuttle Discovery, was injured in a bicycle accident Saturday, a NASA official said. The injury was not life threatening and the NASA official, citing medical privacy issues, provided no additional details. But multiple sources said Kopra may have broken his hip, raising the prospect of a significant impact to the already-delayed mission.
NASA zeroes in on root cause of shuttle tank cracks
Engineers believe they have zeroed in on the root cause of cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank, NASA officials said Tuesday. Installation of a relatively simple modification to the tops of the structural ribs, or stringers, where the ship's liquid oxygen tank is supported by a massive flange should resolve the problem once and for all, setting the stage for another launch attempt Feb. 24.
NASA orders full round of stiffeners to Discovery tank
Senior NASA managers Monday agreed to install stiffeners all the way around the shuttle Discovery's external tank to beef up structural ribs, or stringers, that are susceptible to cracks when exposed to ultra-low-temperature propellant. Engineers say the modifications can be completed in time to support at launch as early as Feb. 24, assuming the work goes smoothly and no other major problems develop.
NASA managers Thursday decided to give engineers additional time to assess external tank cracks and repair scenarios, ruling out an early February launch for the shuttle Discovery. The next shuttle launch window opens Feb. 27, but NASA is assessing whether it might be possible to move that up a few days.
Shuttle engineers consider beefing up all tank 'stringers'
NASA managers Monday directed engineers to add stiffeners to some structural beams in the shuttle Discovery's external tank. Another meeting is planned for Thursday to discuss installing so called "radius-block" stiffeners to the tops of the remaining stringers that form the tank's familiar ribbed midsection, but work to beef up all 108 almost certainly would delay Discovery's launch to late February.
Inspections reveal four more cracks on Discovery's tank
Engineers examining the shuttle Discovery's external tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building have found four more small cracks in three structural ribs, or stringers, on the opposite side of the tank from the orbiter that could not be inspected at the launch pad. Four cracks on the shuttle side of the tank were repaired earlier, and it's not yet clear what, if any, additional work might be needed to develop the "flight rationale" needed for another launch attempt as early as Feb. 3.
Leaving the launch pad and rolling back to the Vehicle Assembly Building early Wednesday, the space shuttle Discovery will spend the holidays having the external tank digitally X-rayed as engineers look to prove the hypothesis that its structural cracks resulted from pent up stresses accumulated during construction and were unleashed during the strains of cryogenic fueling.
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Before the space shuttle Discovery was returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a photographer for NASA captured a beautiful aerial picture gallery of the spaceship standing atop Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A. The photos show the crawler-transporter poised to move underneath Discovery for the rollback.
NASA shot high-definition video of the lunar eclipse in the sky over Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A where the space shuttle Discovery was uncovered from the gantry during preps for rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building. We took some frame grabs from that video to create this photo gallery.
The space shuttle Discovery's external tank was loaded with a half-million gallons of supercold liquid oxygen and hydrogen rocket fuel Friday for a knowledge-building test to understand the stresses and strains the external tank endures during a countdown. The shuttle will be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Tuesday for detailed inspections.
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Discovery will return to assembly building next week
Shuttle Discovery's external tank will be loaded with supercold rocket propellants as early as Friday in a critical test to help engineers understand what might have caused cracks in two structural ribs. After the test, the shuttle will be hauled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional inspections and possible repairs.
Launch of the shuttle Discovery on a space station resupply mission will be delayed until at least Feb. 3, NASA managers announced Friday, to give engineers more time to carry out tests to help figure out what caused cracks in the ship's external tank and what, if any, modifications might be needed before the ship can be cleared for flight.
Special fueling test could be ordered for Discovery's tank
NASA managers and engineers met Thursday to discuss the potential root cause of cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank, what additional tests might be needed and what, if any, modifications might be required before another launch attempt can be made.
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Discovery's launch delayed until at least mid-December
NASA managers reviewing the progress of repairs to the shuttle Discovery's external tank and the rationale for making another launch attempt decided Wednesday to pass up an early December launch window, delaying the flight to at least Dec. 17 and possibly all the way to February.
Space shuttle Discovery's launch delayed to Dec. 3
Work to repair the shuttle Discovery's external tank is going well, but more time is needed to complete an engineering review and to develop the necessary flight rationale, the justification for launching with a repaired tank after unexpected damage. As a result, NASA announced Thursday, the flight will remain on hold until at least Dec. 3, four days after the opening of a short end-of-year launch window.
Tank repairs proceed amid work on 'flight rationale'
Engineers are pressing ahead with work to repair small cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank and to finish installation and tests of a replacement hydrogen vent line quick-disconnect fitting that grounded the ship Nov. 5. At the same time, troubleshooters are assessing the structural integrity of the tank and its foam insulation to develop the necessary flight rationale, or justification, for proceeding with another launch as early as Nov. 30.
Fourth crack found on shuttle Discovery's external tank
Engineers inspecting the shuttle Discovery's external tank have found a fourth crack in the structural ribs, or stringers, making up the outer skin of the compartment between the liquid oxygen and hydrogen sections.
Engineers removed additional foam insulation near a cracked structural rib, or stringer, in the shuttle Discovery's external tank Friday and found yet another crack in an adjacent stringer, sources said.
Apparent seal problem found in leaking shuttle vent line
A leaking hydrogen vent line attachment fitting on the side of the shuttle Discovery's external tank was removed and disassembled overnight, revealing an unevenly compressed internal seal. The quick-disconnect hardware also may have a less concentric fit than pre-fueling measurements indicated.
Cracked foam insulation on the shuttle Discovery's external tank was cut away early Wednesday, revealing serpentine cracks in an underlying structural rib, or stringer. Based on experience repairing similar cracks on other tanks, sources said, engineers believe the damage can be fixed at the pad before the next launch window opens at the end of the month.
Shuttle gaseous hydrogen vent line inspections begin
Engineers worked to disconnect a 7-inch hydrogen vent line from a leaky quick-disconnect fitting on the side of the shuttle Discovery's external tank Tuesday that grounded the ship last Friday. Disassembly of the suspect fitting was expected overnight, with troubleshooters taking in situ photographs of the hardware, double-checking its alignment and looking for any obvious signs of trouble.
Engineers extended a launch pad access platform Monday in preparation for inspections and disassembly of a 7-inch hydrogen vent line quick-disconnect fitting to find out what caused a potentially dangerous leak that forced NASA to cancel the shuttle Discovery's planned launching last Friday.
Friday's liftoff of space shuttle Discovery has been postponed due to a "significant" leak in the gaseous hydrogen venting system between the launch pad and external fuel tank. It's the same problem that delayed a pair of shuttle missions last year. NASA says the next launch attempt won't be made until the next window opens on November 30 at 4:05 a.m. EST.
Weather postpones shuttle Discovery's final launch
The Mission Management Team met early Thursday morning and decided the weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center were too unfavorable to attempt launching space shuttle Discovery that day. The countdown will hold for 24 hours and retarget a liftoff on Friday at 3:04 p.m. EDT (1904 GMT).
Despite threatening weather, NASA managers Wednesday cleared the shuttle Discovery for launch Thursday on its 39th and final mission, deciding an electrical glitch that prompted a 24-hour delay was not a threat to flight safety. Liftoff was targeted for 3:29:43 p.m. EDT.
Shuttle Discovery's launch postponed at least a day
Wednesday's planned launch of space shuttle Discovery has been postponed at least 24 hours to give technicians additional time for troubleshooting the electrical problem with the main engine controller circuitry. A Thursday liftoff would be targeted for 3:29 p.m. EDT (1929 GMT).
Mission preview: One final spaceflight for Discovery
The shuttle Discovery and a crew of six veteran astronauts are on track for launch Wednesday to deliver critical spare parts, supplies and a final U.S. module to the International Space Station. It will be Discovery's 39th and final voyage as NASA presses ahead with plans to retire the fleet after just three more missions. This is our 4,300-word mission preview.
NASA managers met Monday to review the shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and unanimously agreed to press ahead with launch Wednesday, weather permitting, on a voyage to the International Space Station. It will be Discovery's 39th and final mission.
Having resolved helium and nitrogen leaks, space shuttle Discovery's final launch countdown started this afternoon at Kennedy Space Center's Complex 39. Liftoff is targeted for Wednesday at 3:52 p.m. EDT (1752 GMT).
Shuttle managers have decided to push back Discovery's launch an additional 24 hours, enabling technicians time to complete testing and the pressurization of Discovery's helium system before starting the countdown sequence. Liftoff is rescheduled for Wednesday at 3:52 p.m. EDT (1752 GMT).
Cosmonaut flies resupply ship to station docking
For the 40th time in the past decade, a Russian cargo freighter has arrived at the International Space Station carrying vital supplies to feed the needs of the orbiting laboratory and its resident crews. But this docking required the intervention by one of the most experienced cosmonauts. FULL STORY
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Space station's spectacular views of the world below
The Expedition 25 crew working aboard the International Space Station has used the outpost's seven-windowed cupola to take amazing nighttime pictures of planet Earth. The orbital observation deck offers panoramic views for the astronaut shutterbugs to wow the public in these photos of America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Helium leak repair delays launch of shuttle Discovery
The shuttle Discovery's launch on a space station resupply mission is being delayed from Monday to at least Tuesday -- election day in the United States -- to give engineers time to repair two leaking quick-disconnect fittings in pressurization systems used by the ship's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod. Repairs will delay starting the countdown sequence until Saturday, pushing back Discovery's launch to Tuesday at 4:17 p.m. EDT.
Discovery astronauts fly to Florida for Monday's launch
Six astronauts traveled from their home base in Houston to the Kennedy Space Center launch site in sleek T-38 jets Thursday afternoon, trained and ready to take shuttle Discovery for its final spaceflight. Launch remains scheduled for Monday at 4:40 p.m. EDT.
Cargo craft begins pursuit of International Space Station
Just a week before the shuttle Discovery arrives at the International Space Station for its construction mission, a Russian resupply ship has launched to deliver a load of equipment, fuel and provisions to the orbiting science laboratory.
Shuttle Discovery cleared for blastoff next Monday
After reviewing normal processing and weekend work to fix a small fuel leak, NASA managers Monday cleared the shuttle Discovery for an election-eve launch November 1 to begin a space station resupply mission, the orbiter's 39th and final flight.
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Seals replaced in shuttle Discovery's fuel line flange
Working through the weekend, engineers drained toxic propellants from the shuttle Discovery's orbital maneuvering system rocket pods, dried out the lines, disassembled a fuel-line flange Saturday and replaced two internal seals in a bid to stop a tiny leak.
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NASA optimistic shuttle seal changeout will fix leak
Engineers geared up Thursday to drain toxic rocket fuel from the shuttle Discovery's orbital maneuvering system rocket pods before beginning weekend work to replace suspect seals in a fuel-line flange.
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NASA managers order seal replacement in Discovery
Uncomfortable with an on-again, off-again leak in the plumbing used by the shuttle Discovery's maneuvering rockets, NASA managers Tuesday ordered engineers to forego additional testing and to press ahead instead with work to replace internal seals in a fuel line fitting. FULL STORY
Technicians working on tiny fuel leak in Discovery pod
Engineers troubleshooting a small fuel leak aboard the shuttle Discovery decided Monday to carry out additional tests before more invasive and time-consuming work to replace a suspect seal, officials said. FULL STORY
Discovery astronauts practice launch countdown
Shuttle Discovery's six veteran astronauts suited up and climbed aboard the spacecraft at launch pad 39A for a countdown dress rehearsal Friday. The test culminated with a simulated shutdown of the main engines at T-minus 4 seconds to practice emergency procedures.
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Discovery's crew takes armored tank for a spin
Space shuttle Discovery's astronauts Wednesday took turns test-driving an armored tank around Complex 39 as part of their emergency training exercises in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. PHOTO GALLERY
Shuttle crew comes to town for practice countdown
The six astronauts to fly Discovery's final orbital voyage have jetted into the Kennedy Space Center for this week's countdown dress rehearsal with the space shuttle launch team.
Payloads loaded aboard shuttle Discovery for launch
Space shuttle Discovery's cargo bay was filled Monday with the orbiter's final payload complement, a new module and platform that are among the last accouterments for the International Space Station after a decade of construction.
An Italian-made module that will give the International Space Station a float-in closet and help ease the outpost's storage woes arrived at the launch pad Thursday morning for loading aboard space shuttle Discovery.
Shuttle Discovery's payloads getting packed up
The Express Logistics Carrier No. 4 for the International Space Station was loaded into the transportation canister at Kennedy Space Center this morning, bound for shipment to shuttle Discovery at launch pad 39A.
FULL STORY MISSION FLIGHT PLAN LAUNCH WINDOWS
Photo special: Discovery on launch pad one last time
The incredible machine that is the space shuttle has been the central feature in America's space program for the past three decades. But as forced retirement looms, the orbiters are flying their final missions before becoming museum pieces. Spaceflight Now had the rare treat to visit shuttle Discovery at launch pad 39A and create this photographic collection of the venerable spaceplane.
Shuttle Discovery takes final journey to launch pad
For the last time in history, the space shuttle Discovery journeyed from Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39A Monday night. Watch our Mission Status Center for live updates and streaming video:
Discovery mounted to tank and boosters for final launch
Moving a major step closer to its final spaceflight before retirement, shuttle Discovery took a road trip Thursday morning from the hangar to the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center for attachment to the external fuel tank and twin solid rockets. Engineers ran into trouble Friday morning with one of the main bolts that connect the orbiter to the tank, but the problem was fixed Saturday.
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NASA photo gallery of Discovery's ground moves
This photo collection documents space shuttle Discovery's move from the Orbiter Processing Facility hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building, going vertical and mating to external fuel tank, plus an internal view of the attachment bolt that had a problematic nut.
Spacewalk to tidy up station deferred to shuttle crew
In the wake of a three-spacewalk coolant pump replacement, space station managers decided this week to defer additional maintenance work until the next shuttle crew arrives in November.
Maneuvering engine attached to Discovery
Workers installed the shuttle Discovery's right-side Orbital Maneuvering System pod Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center after replacing a faulty helium valve.
FULL STORY AND PHOTO GALLERY
United Space Alliance announces shuttle layoffs
With only two shuttle flights remaining on NASA's manifest, prime contractor United Space Alliance plans to lay off about 15 percent of its 8,100-strong space shuttle workforce Oct. 1, company officials announced Tuesday. FULL STORY
New launch dates targeted for remaining shuttles
After assessing payload processing issues and projected traffic to and from the International Space Station, NASA managers Thursday formally retargeted the program's final two missions for launches Nov. 1 and Feb. 26.
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NASA begins review of shuttle launch date changes
NASA managers Tuesday asked shuttle engineers to assess retargeting the final two space shuttle missions, moving launch of a mid-September flight with Discovery to Oct. 29 and a late November flight by Endeavour to Feb. 28. The changes would give engineers more time to optimize payloads bound for the International Space Station and avoid launch conflicts with other flights to the lab complex.
Three main engines were attached to the shuttle Discovery earlier this week to power the orbiter's last launch this fall. Spaceflight Now captured these views of the task of installing the hydrogen-fueled engines on the back of the shuttle.
Oil spill sits in route of shuttle external fuel tank
The oil slick threatening the Gulf Coast is throwing a wrench into NASA's plans to transport a new shuttle fuel tank from Louisiana to Florida this week. The external tank will fly on the shuttle Discovery's mission in September. FULL STORY