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News Archive 2010: May and June
Resupply ship for the space station soars into orbit
A load of basic essentials for the International Space Station and its resident crew -- food, fuel and supplies -- launched aboard a Russian-made cargo freighter Wednesday. Docking is planned for Friday.
FULL STORY - updated! IMAGES:ROCKET ROLLOUT GALLERY
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PROGRESS 38P FREIGHTER LAUNCHED PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Opportunity sends home clear view of distant crater
A sharp-eyed camera on the Opportunity rover has beamed home the best images yet of the rugged rim of Endeavour crater, the robot's next destination on its tour of the windswept plains of Mars.
FULL STORY
Satellite imagery illustrates reach of Gulf oil spill
A NASA spacecraft circling more than 400 miles above Earth has snapped a striking picture of oil streaming ashore in Mississippi, adding another photo to the growing catalog of satellite images of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
FULL STORY
Probe swings by Earth for rendezvous with comet
NASA's intrepid comet explorer has used Earth as a gravitational slingshot, zipping by the planet to reshape its interplanetary trajectory and take aim toward its next target.
FULL STORY OUR DEEP IMPACT COVERAGE OUR LAUNCH ARCHIVE
New Obama policy seeks more partnerships in space
The White House unveiled a broad new national space policy Monday, calling for more international cooperation and preserving space for U.S., foreign and commercial interests.
FULL STORY
Station crew takes Soyuz for 'spin around the block'
The International Space Station's new docking module added by the shuttle Atlantis astronauts in May received its first vehicle Monday when the outpost's crew relocated a Soyuz capsule there.
FULL STORY
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WATCH THE WHOLE TRIP TAKEN BY SOYUZ CAPSULE PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
This Week In Space
An exclusive interview with SpaceX's safety officer delves into the post-flight review of the Falcon 9 test launch. Also this week, the final shuttle missions slip out and John Glenn enters debate about the space program's future. 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.
News Headlines
Photo gallery of Ariane 5 rocket's sunset blastoff
A European Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched a pair of satellites for customers in the Middle East and South Korea over the weekend. The commercial flight began with liftoff at sunset from the Guiana Space Center in South America.
PHOTO GALLERY
NASA, NOAA pick familiar design for new satellite
NASA plans to purchase a clone of a stopgap weather satellite to be the first member of a new civilian fleet of environmental platforms, but the future of U.S. climate-monitoring spacecraft hinges on congressional approval of a White House budget proposal to pay for the new program, a government official said Monday.
FULL STORY
Falcon rocket meets fiery end after historic test flight
After riding a flame into Earth orbit more than three weeks ago, the dormant upper stage of the first Falcon 9 rocket plunged back into the atmosphere this weekend, a fiery finale for the historic privately-developed spacecraft.
FULL STORY
U.S. military ready to use its new communications craft
Strategic Command has taken use of the military's newest Wideband Global SATCOM satellite that will bridge the Atlantic for communications between the U.S. and deployed forces overseas.
FULL STORY OUR LAUNCH ARCHIVE
Ariane 5 launches Arab and South Korean satellites
Europe's Ariane 5 commercial launcher carried out another uneventful trek to orbit Saturday night, successfully deploying a powerful broadcasting bird for the Arab world and a unique spacecraft to see and communicate with South Korea.
FULL STORY SCRUB STORY PREVIEW STORY OUR ARIANE ARCHIVE
Scientists peer inside Hayabusa asteroid capsule
Scientists inside a spotless clean room near Tokyo are carefully opening the drum-shaped capsule from the Hayabusa mission, beginning months of tedious evaluations to determine whether the $200 million mission returned dust grains from an asteroid.
FULL STORY
Exoplanet's superstorm
High-precision observations have allowed astronomers to make the first measurements of a storm raging on an exoplanet, as well as compute the planet's orbital speed and mass.
FULL STORY
NASA: China not invited to join space station program
NASA says the International Space Station partner countries have not invited China to join the orbiting lab complex, dismissing a Russian news story proclaiming the Russian space agency contacted the rising space power about signing on to the project.
FULL STORY
Comet-bound probe needs Earth to shape its trajectory
The NASA spacecraft made famous for firing a projectile into a comet five years ago is speeding back toward Earth to receive a critical boost Sunday that will send the satellite to another cometary rendezvous this November.
FULL STORY
Study suggests water was a global occurrence on Mars
Two probes circling the Red Planet have discovered evidence that water was once present in the northern hemisphere of Mars, a sign the planet's entire surface may have been habitable billions of years ago.
FULL STORY
Lawmakers want NASA to speed up heavy-lift rocket
A letter to President Obama from a bipartisan group of 62 members of the U.S. House of Representatives proposes a compromise plan to immediately develop a heavy-lift rocket, saying it would preserve jobs and America's leadership in human spaceflight.
FULL STORY
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. FULL STORY
Europe's new weather satellites clear political snag
Europe's meteorological satellite agency finally resolved a lengthy dispute Monday between France and Germany over their roles in the next-generation weather satellites to cover the continent. FULL STORY
NASA gives Taurus another chance to launch OCO craft
NASA is again turning to the Taurus rocket to loft a replacement carbon-sniffing observatory after a mishap doomed the first try to launch the crucial environmental satellite. The second Orbiting Carbon Observatory mission could launch as early as February 2013. FULL STORY OUR TAURUS ARCHIVE
New Israeli spy satellite blasts off into the night
Israel successfully launched a top secret spy satellite into low Earth orbit Tuesday from an air base along the Mediterranean coast, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. FULL STORY
This Week In Space
This Week In Space: Miles O'Brien has an exclusive interview with former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin about SpaceX and the space program's new direction. 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.
News Headlines
Cassini makes dramatic dive in the name of science
The Cassini spacecraft pulled off its latest drama-packed performance Sunday night, braving to skim deeper into the outer atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon than it had ever attempted before in hopes of discovering a magnetic field around Titan.
FULL STORY
Hubble's bubbles and stars
A new Hubble Space Telescope image delving into the N11 region of the Large Magellanic Cloud reveals bright bubbles of glowing gas and a region of frenetic star birth. FULL STORY
Radar mapping spacecraft launched into Earth orbit
A new German satellite rocketed into orbit from Kazakhstan early Monday, reinforcing a program to create the most precise civilian three-dimensional maps of Earth using dual high-resolution radars. FULL STORY VIDEO:RUSSIAN LAUNCH FOOTAGE
Cassini scientists await results from new adventure
The Cassini spacecraft headed toward its closest encounter with the mysterious world of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, during a daring flyby Sunday night that scientists hoped would answer a key question.
PREVIEW STORY
International Space Station welcomes new residents
The Soyuz spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut for the International Space Station docked to the outpost Thursday evening at 6:21 p.m. EDT (2221 GMT). Doug Wheelock, Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin now begin a half-year mission aboard the station.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! STORE:EXPEDITION 24 CREW PATCH
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WELCOME CEREMONY FOR THE NEW RESIDENTS PLAY VIDEO:
POST-DOCKING NEWS BRIEFING IN RUSSIA PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
On this date in history: Sally Ride's launch
The seventh flight of the space shuttle is remembered for breaking the gender barrier for U.S. spaceflight. Sally Ride flew into space and the history books with her historic June 1983 mission, becoming America's first woman astronaut. VIDEO COVERAGE STORE:STS-7 CREW PATCH
Mysterious flash on Jupiter left no debris cloud
An impact on Jupiter that was captured on camera by amateur astronomers Anthony Wesley and Christopher Go was apparently nothing more than a giant meteor, according to the latest Hubble Space Telescope observations of the gas giant.
FULL STORY
Discovery gets three main engines for last launch
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.
IMAGES:ENGINE BOLTED TO SHUTTLE IMAGES:DISCOVERY RECEIVES FINAL ENGINE
SpaceX wins lion's share of Iridium launch services
On the heels of its first Falcon 9 rocket flight less than two weeks ago, SpaceX has inked a $492 million deal to launch a new fleet of Iridium mobile communications satellites beginning in 2015.
FULL STORY
Something strange is happening on Titan
New findings on Saturn's hydrocarbon-shrouded moon Titan reveal anomalies that although are likely explained by chemical processes, still leave the room open for the possibility of life. FULL STORY
Three-person international crew launched into space
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched as scheduled Tuesday to ferry two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station, boosting the lab's crew from three to six. Liftoff occurred at 5:35 p.m. EDT (2135 GMT) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! STORE:EXPEDITION 24 CREW PATCH
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FULL EXPERIENCE FROM LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY VIDEO:
ENTIRE EXPEDITION 24 LAUNCH BROADCAST PLAY VIDEO:
CREW DEPARTS SITE 254 FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
VIPS MEET THE CREW ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY VIDEO:
CREW MEMBERS DON THEIR SOKOL SPACESUITS PLAY VIDEO:
LAUNCH MORNING TRADITIONS AT CREW QUARTERS PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY VIDEO:
POST-ROLLOUT COMMENTS FROM NASA OFFICIAL PLAY VIDEO:
ASSEMBLY OF SOYUZ COMPLETED IN THE HANGAR PLAY VIDEO:
HIGHLIGHTS OF CREW'S ACTIVITIES AT BAIKONUR PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S DEPARTURE FROM STAR CITY TRAINING BASE PLAY VIDEO:
PRIME AND BACKUP CREWS MEET WITH REPORTERS PLAY VIDEO:
CEREMONIAL VISIT TO RED SQUARE IN MOSCOW PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Space sensor coaxed to life following bleak troubles
Calling it a miracle recovery after early troubles left engineers wondering if the instrument could ever be activated, scientists have unveiled the first picture from the Solar X-ray Imager aboard the nation's newest weather satellite.
FULL STORY LAUNCH COVERAGE
Dnepr rocket launches on mission for France, Sweden
A Soviet-era ballistic missile blasted off from southern Russia on Tuesday with a French spacecraft to observe the sun and a Swedish experiment to demonstrate orbital formation flying with two satellites.
FULL STORY
Research satellite orbited by Chinese launcher
China successfully shot a scientific research satellite into orbit on a Long March rocket Monday, marking the country's fourth space launch of the year. Liftoff occurred at 0139 GMT (9:39 p.m. EDT).
FULL STORY
This Week In Space
Japan's robotic roundtrip mission to visit an asteroid beats the odds and returns home, South Korea's new rocket has a bad day and Mars rover Spirit produces another discovery. 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.
News Headlines
Asteroid capsule recovered from Australian outback
Japanese and Australian officials retrieved the Hayabusa re-entry capsule from the desert floor Monday, beginning months of tedious examinations to determine whether the container holds precious dust samples from the surface of an asteroid.
FULL STORY IMAGES:WORKERS RECOVER CAPSULE
Japanese craft plunges back to Earth after asteroid visit
Cutting across the night sky at more than 27,000 mph, a small Japanese capsule returned to Earth from the surface of an asteroid Sunday and landed in the remote Australian outback. Touchdown occurred just after 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT), and a helicopter spotted the craft less than an hour later.
RE-ENTRY OVER AUSTRALIA IMAGES:HAYABUSA's FIERY HOMECOMING HAYABUSA RELEASES CAPSULE COMPREHENSIVE PREVIEW STORY
Air Force deems TacSat craft ready for operations
U.S. Air Force officials were planning to hand over a small experimental imaging satellite to Space Command on Saturday, the first time one of the Pentagon's low-cost responsive missions has been thrust into an operational role.
FULL STORY
Major satellite launch next on Cape Canaveral schedule
Now that last week's Falcon-mania has subsided at Cape Canaveral, attention turns to preparations for the Florida spaceport's next launch of the Atlas 5 rocket to place a crucial national security communications satellite into space.
FULL STORY OUR ATLAS ARCHIVE
Japanse mission unleashes solar sail in deep space
Japan's space agency confirmed Friday its Ikaros mission successfully unfurled a solar sail nearly 5 million miles from Earth, but it could be much longer before officials confirm whether the craft is being accelerated by the power of sunlight.
FULL STORY
New GPS signal for civil users being put to the test
The next-generation Global Positioning System satellite launched two weeks ago has begun testing the new civilian navigation signal debuting operationally on this spacecraft.
FULL STORY LAUNCH COVERAGE
South Korea says rocket likely exploded after liftoff
A half-Russian, half-Korean rocket likely exploded a few minutes after liftoff Thursday, dealing a second blow to South Korea's $400 million program to develop its own satellite launcher. Liftoff was at 0801 GMT (4:01 a.m. EDT).
FULL STORY - updated! PREVIEW STORY LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE IMAGES:KSLV ROLLS TO PAD
Hayabusa on course for Australia landing zone
Five days before it will fall into the Australian outback, Japan's returning Hayabusa asteroid mission finished targeting the landing site Tuesday in a final planned ion engine burn. FULL STORY
ESA needs to 'tighten the belt' amid budget crisis
The European Space Agency's spending freeze is not delaying missions yet, but all options will be on the table as the cash-strapped agency prepares for even tighter budgets in 2011 and 2012, the organization's top financial official said.
FULL STORY
Pegasus rocket picks up new NASA launch order
NASA has chosen the air-launched Pegasus rocket to deploy its solar observatory designed to study how the Sun's atmosphere is energized.
FULL STORY OUR PEGASUS ARCHIVE
This Week In Space
In this special edition of This Week in Space, SpaceX boss Elon Musk speaks to Miles O'Brien about the successful flight of his Falcon 9 rocket and hits back at critics of the rocket's role in the Obama space plan. 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.
News Headlines
Prisma satellites will begin high-flying dance next week
Two Swedish satellites are snugly packed inside the nose of a Ukrainian rocket for blastoff next week, when the duo will commence a risky test of new formation-flying and rendezvous technologies on a shoestring budget.
FULL STORY
Falcon 9 launch video in standard and high definition
Spaceflight Now captured the Falcon 9 rocket's maiden blastoff from three locations: Kennedy Space Center's press site, the NASA Causeway and atop the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building. The video is presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus subscribers.
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FALCON LAUNCH AS SEEN FROM NASA CAUSEWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
VIEW FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING ROOF CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
MORE FROM THE VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
Astronaut Hall of Fame inducts its 2010 class
The first African-American astronaut, a spacewalking woman and two shuttle-turned-station commanders now leading competing commercial spaceflight programs at Orbital Sciences and SpaceX were honored Saturday. Guy Bluford, Kathy Thornton, Frank Culbertson and Ken Bowersox were inducted as the Astronaut Hall of Fame's class of 2010. The ceremony is presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus subscribers.
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME CEREMONY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
SpaceX shuffles Dragon cargo flights to station
SpaceX hopes to move forward its bid to deliver supplies to the International Space Station to the second test flight of the Dragon capsule next spring, foregoing an extra mission to prove out the cargo ship's rendezvous capabilities. FULL STORY
Russian rocket hauls satellite to orbit for Arabsat
The primary operator of communications satellites in the Arab world has launched the first of two powerful new spacecraft, beginning a major orbital upgrade using competing commercial rockets to get the birds aloft this month. FULL STORY - updated
SpaceX keeping Falcon 9's flight plan hush-hush
The Falcon 9 rocket is standing tall on the Cape Canaveral skyline after rolling out of its hangar Wednesday, but SpaceX is purposely keeping the booster's flight plan under wraps to dodge instant analysis from armchair quarterbacks. FULL STORY
China sends Beidou navigation satellite to orbit
China launched another satellite Wednesday toward an orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth, marking another step in building the country's own space navigation system. FULL STORY
Soyuz brings international crew back to Earth
The Soyuz TMA-17 crew capsule, carrying outgoing space station commander Oleg Kotov, Timothy Creamer and Soichi Noguchi, settled to a safe parachute-and-rocket-assisted landing in Kazakhstan after a descent from the International Space Station. Touchdown occurred at 11:25 p.m. EDT Tuesday. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
CREW SAFELY BACK ON EARTH! PLAY VIDEO:
SOYUZ TMA-17 UNDOCKS FROM ZVEZDA MODULE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW BOARDS SOYUZ AND CLOSES HATCHWAY PLAY VIDEO:
SPACE STATION CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
Japanese satellite begins flight to test space parts
The Rockot launcher, a modified Russian ballistic missile, lifted off Wednesday with a Japanese satellite running on off-the-shelf components designed to prove the utility of everyday parts in space. FULL STORY
Plasma rocket could revolutionize space travel
Inside an unsuspecting warehouse in suburban Houston, hidden behind a streetcorner strip mall, a team of elite engineers and enterprising physicists is busy developing a high-tech plasma rocket designed to carry humanity to the stars.
FULL STORY
Hayabusa on track for landing in two weeks
Two weeks before its scheduled return to Earth, Japan's Hayabusa asteroid explorer is halfway through a series of unprecedented ion engine burns to aim the probe for a narrow re-entry corridor toward Australia.
FULL STORY
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THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE OF DELTA/GPS 2F-1 PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY'S COUNT HALTED SECONDS BEFORE LAUNCH PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW
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.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER- live updates! IMAGES:ATLANTIS ARRIVES HOME IMAGES:LANDING PHOTOS IMAGES:ATLANTIS TOWBACK MAPS:WEDNESDAY'S LANDING TRACKS NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download) OUR MISSION ARCHIVE STORE:STS-132 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS SAFELY LANDS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS' POST-LANDING BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
NASA OFFICIALS HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: INFRARED CAMERA PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY NORTH PLAY VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY SOUTH PLAY 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: EDGE OF RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY MID-FIELD PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LANDING REPLAYS: KENNEDY TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Air Force says Waverider scramjet test is successful
The first of four X-51 Waverider scramjet test flights was an "unqualified success" Wednesday, shattering the previous endurance record for scramjet engine operations, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY
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.
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
LOOKING OUT THE PILOT'S WINDOW DURING LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA FROM LIFTOFF TO SEPARATION PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY VIDEO:
RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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.
WEATHER SEEMS 50-50 MORNING STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download) STS-132 FLIGHT PLAN
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FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 12 PLAY VIDEO:
COLBERT REPORT, ABC AND CLEVELAND INTERVIEWS PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
AMAZING VIEW OF THE MOON AND ATLANTIS PLAY VIDEO:
AEROSURFACES CHECKED OUT FOR LANDING PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA calls it quits on damaged Phoenix lander
NASA gave the Phoenix lander a final chance to phone home last week, but the craft's continuing silence and a new image showing ice damage to its solar panels have forced the space agency to give up hope on the mission.
FULL STORY
This Week In Space
An exclusive interview with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, hear David Letterman's reaction to his first space shuttle launch, Japan heads for Venus and NASA's oil spill research effort. 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.
News Headlines
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.
FULL STORY
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 11:
GAZING DOWN AT PLANET EARTH PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 11 PLAY VIDEO:
STUNNING ORBITAL PASS OVER FLORIDA PLAY VIDEO:
LEAD FLIGHT DIRECTOR CALLS THE CREW PLAY VIDEO:
UPDATE FROM MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 11 ACTIVITIES PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
A sneak peek at potential destinations for Mars rover
NASA has set the target launch date for the Mars Science Laboratory next fall, but the Curiosity rover's landing site is still being debated by a team of researchers walking a tightrope between science and safety.
FULL STORY
Flawless shuttle visit to station a thing of beauty
Atlantis undocked from the space station 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.
FULL STORY MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. H (.pdf download)
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS FLIES UNDERNEATH THE COMPLEX PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE BEGINS FLYAROUND OF THE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS UNDOCKS FROM INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS BID FAREWELL TO STATION CREW PLAY VIDEO:
IN-FLIGHT CREW NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
NARRATED PREVIEW OF UNDOCKING AND FLYAROUND PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
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.
FULL STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9:
UPDATE ON NEW RASSVET MODULE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9:
CELEBRATION OF ISAAC NEWTON PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9:
GOODIES AND FOOD TREATS PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 8:
GETTING READY TO GO OUTSIDE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 8:
ASTRONAUTS WALKING IN SPACE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 8:
PIERS WORKS IN THE CUPOLA PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 8:
PEEK INSIDE RASSVET MODULE PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
CARGO PALLET RETURNED TO ATLANTIS PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 9 PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 8 PLAY VIDEO:
SATURDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Ariane 5 ends launch hiatus with successful mission
During its landmark 50th launch, Europe's Ariane 5 rocket successfully blasted off from the South American coast Friday evening with a commercial broadcasting satellite and a payload to link commanders and troops in the German military.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. G (.pdf download)
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
LAST OF THE OLD BATTERIES STOWED AWAY PLAY VIDEO:
FINAL BATTERY INSTALLED IN THE SIX-PACK PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS INSTALL BATTERY ECHO PLAY VIDEO:
BATTERY REPLACEMENT WORK RESUMES PLAY VIDEO:
WATCH THE ASTRONAUTS BEGIN THE SPACEWALK PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 3 PLAY VIDEO:
FRIDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7:
STATION'S NEWEST MODULE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7:
GETTING READY TO WALK IN SPACE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7:
ATLANTIS' COMMANDER AND PILOT PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7:
CHATTING WITH STATION RESIDENT PLAY MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Launch sends Japanese orbiter on the way to Venus
A $275 million robotic mission to Venus launched from southern Japan aboard an H-2A rocket at 2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT), kicking off a six-month journey through the inner solar system. The Akatsuki orbiter will study the Venusian atmosphere when it arrives in December.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER- live updates! LAUNCH PREVIEW IMAGES:SECOND ROLLOUT IMAGES:FIRST LAUNCH ATTEMPT LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP
Mars rovers surpass Red Planet endurance record
The Opportunity rover broke a 28-year-old Mars duration record Thursday, surpassing the Viking 1 lander to become the longest-lived spacecraft to ever operate on the Red Planet, at least until the identical Spirit rover awakes from a winter snooze.
FULL STORY
Solar sail will harness sunlight during test flight
Packed inside the H-2A rocket scheduled to launch Thursday is a low-cost Japanese solar sail that could transform humanity's ability to reach the stars, assuming the spacecraft's tricky deployment goes as planned and scientists' theories hold up in real life.
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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.
FULL STORY MORNING STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. F (.pdf download)
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.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. E (.pdf download)
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6:
DINNER TIME IS FUN TMIE IN SPACE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6:
THE VICTORIOUS SPACEWALKERS PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6:
MIKE AND STEVE RETURN FROM EVA PLAY VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 6 PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
REMOVING GIMBAL LOCKS ON ANTENNA DISH PLAY VIDEO:
ADDING TO TORQUE TO NEW KU-BAND ATENNA PLAY VIDEO:
THE DAY'S FINAL NEW BATTERY INSTALLED PLAY VIDEO:
THIRD OLD BATTERY PULLED OUT AND STOWED PLAY VIDEO:
SECOND FRESH BATTERY PUT INTO STATION PLAY VIDEO:
FIRST OF THE NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS REMOVE FIRST OLD BATTERY PLAY VIDEO:
CABLE ON INSPECTION SENSOR UNTANGLED PLAY VIDEO:
WEDNESDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 2 PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 6 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
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Launch of Falcon 9 rocket will wait another week
Air Force officials say SpaceX will launch its first Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than May 27, but the planned landing of the shuttle Atlantis next week will likely push the long-awaited blastoff to at least May 28. Safety officials continue reviewing the private booster's destruct mechanism.
MISSION STATUS CENTER
New module supports 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.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download) NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. C (.pdf download)
Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
FLIGHT DECK OF ATLANTIS PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
GIVING WATER TO STATION PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
INSIDE DESTINY LABORATORY PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
ROBOTICS WORKSTATION IN CUPOLA PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
LOOKING OUT WINDOW AT EARTH PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5:
DAILY SHUTTLE CHORES PLAY VIDEO:
CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 5 PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
MSNBC AND CNN INTERVIEWS OF CREW PLAY VIDEO:
CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL AROUND PLAY VIDEO:
RASSVET CAPTURED AND SECURED TO ZARYA MODULE! PLAY VIDEO:
TWEAKING FINAL ALIGNMENT OVER DOCKING PORT PLAY VIDEO:
DOCKING PROBE EXTENDED FROM RASSVET NOSE PLAY VIDEO:
SWINGING RASSVET FROM ATLANTIS TO STATION PLAY VIDEO:
RASSVET UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
TUESDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
ANIMATED OVERVIEW OF RUSSIA'S RASSVET MODULE PLAY VIDEO:
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SES will shuffle satellites to avoid zombie spacecraft
A wayward out-of-control Intelsat broadcasting satellite is forcing a rival operator to change the position of two spacecraft to ensure U.S. television viewers continue receiving high-definition programming in late May and early June.
FULL STORY
Spacewalking handymen add features to 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.
FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. B (.pdf download)
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MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
AN ADDITION TO DEXTRE ROBOT PLAY VIDEO:
TORQUING ANTENNA ASSEMBLY INTO PLACE PLAY VIDEO:
FETCHING 6-FOOT-DIAMETER ANTENNA DISH PLAY VIDEO:
BOLTING BOOM ATOP STATION'S Z1 TRUSS PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALKERS HANDOFF ANTENNA BOOM PLAY VIDEO:
UNPACKING ANTENNA BOOM FROM CARRIER PLAY VIDEO:
SPACEWALK NO. 1 BEGINS PLAY VIDEO:
STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO:
PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 4 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO:
MONDAY MORNING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO:
THE FULL STS-132 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW WEARING TUXEDOS LAUNCH MORNING PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AFB 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: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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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.
FULL STORY
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.
News Headlines
Scramjet tests to propel global strike, new space lift
The first hypersonic X-51 scramjet powered long-duration flights to give the Pentagon a new "Prompt Global Strike" capability that ties atmospheric and space propulsion will begin as early as May 25 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
FULL STORY
Space station's Harmony port receives 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.
FULL STORY MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM CHAIRMAN UPDATE PLAY VIDEO:
CARRIER ATTACHED TO STATION'S RAILCAR PLAY VIDEO:
CARGO PALLET LIFTED FROM SHUTTLE BAY PLAY VIDEO:
SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO:
WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR SHUTTLE CREW PLAY VIDEO:
ATLANTIS DOCKS TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PERFORMS BACKFLIP MANEUVER PLAY VIDEO:
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS APPROACHING PLAY VIDEO:
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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.
FULL STORY MORNING STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO:
POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY VIDEO:
CREW ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ATLANTIS ON EVE OF FINAL PLANNED LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH PAD'S SERVICE TOWER RETRACTED PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS INSPECT THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF MORE:STS-132 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE:HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Sea Launch prepares to reorganize after bankruptcy
Sea Launch's plans to emerge from bankruptcy under majority Russian ownership are still subject to court and regulatory approval, but company leaders say they expect to resume commercial missions early next year.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. 0 (.pdf download)
Arianespace sets date for next launch after inquiries
After a month-long review of nagging problems with the Ariane 5 rocket's helium pressurization system, the commercial workhorse is scheduled to return to flight May 21 with two communications satellites, Arianespace's top executive said Wednesday. FULL STORY
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
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?
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
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.
FULL STORY
Managers optimistic Voyager 2 can be restored
The Voyager 2 spacecraft hurtling toward the edge of the solar system is no longer returning useful science data, NASA announced last week, but officials are optimistic they can fix the formatting glitch believed to be causing the problem.
FULL STORY
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.
FULL STORY
This Week In Space
Counting down to the last scheduled launch of shuttle Atlantis, a space robot race between the U.S. and Japan, plans to bring a piece of Mars to Earth, and attack of the Zombie Sat!
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News Headlines
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.
FULL STORY
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HEAR FROM THE COMMANDER AT THE RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE IN FLORIDA FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH KEN HAM PLAY VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH TONY ANTONELLI PLAY VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH GARRETT REISMAN PLAY VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH MIKE GOOD PLAY VIDEO:
PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH STEVE BOWEN PLAY VIDEO:
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Venus probe and solar sail join H-2A rocket for launch
An interplanetary weather satellite bound for Venus and a device to test new propulsion techniques were trucked across Japan's island space center Sunday to meet the H-2A rocket that will launch the payloads into space next week. FULL STORY
First Soyuz rockets put together in South America
After unpacking two Soyuz rockets from shipping crates, Russian workers at the Guiana Space Center are testing and assembling the boosters before moving the vehicle to the launch pad this summer. FULL STORY
NASA tests launch abort system for space capsules
In a spectacular $220 million test, NASA fired a new astronaut escape system rocket in New Mexico Thursday, boosting a dummy crew module more than a mile up in just 20 seconds to demonstrate how a future manned spacecraft could be pulled to safety in the event of a catastrophic on-pad rocket failure. FULL STORY
Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO:
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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.
FULL STORY
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MANAGERS ASSESS ISSUES BEFORE FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
UPDATE ON PRE-LAUNCH PREPS AT PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PROGRAM BRIEFING BY SHUTTLE AND STATION CHIEFS PLAY VIDEO:
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SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS BOARD ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
LAUNCH DAY REHEARSAL BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW'S CHAT WITH REPORTERS AT PAD 39A PLAY VIDEO:
ASTRONAUTS AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER RUNWAY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CREW ARRIVES FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
GANTRY PLACED AROUND ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CROWDS AND THE CREW CHEER ON ATLANTIS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
OVERNIGHT ROLLOUT TO THE PAD BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
SHUTTLE HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ATLANTIS RISES OFF THE TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
ORBITER EMERGES FROM ITS HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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DOME SHIELDS AROUND MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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RASSVET PLACED INTO THE TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
PALLET LOADED WITH MISSION'S CARGO PLAY | HI-DEF VIDEO:
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This Week In Space
Stephen Hawking warns us about aliens, the military launches a space shuttle, NASA helps keep an eye on oil slick off Louisiana, and the countdowns are on for Atlantis' final scheduled flight and Falcon 9's inaugural flight.
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Other Stories
First Falcon 9 rocket launch pushed later in May
The first launch of the Falcon 9 rocket will likely occur May 23, at the earliest, due to qualification testing of a component in the vehicle's explosive Flight Termination System. But officials say a target launch date will not be set until the testing is completed. MISSION STATUS CENTER
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
Cosmonaut takes control of resupply ship's docking
The International Space Station's Russian commander took manual control of an approaching cargo ship Saturday, overriding the freighter's autopilot after it experienced an apparent problem getting oriented toward the outpost. FULL STORY
Next Shuttle Mission Patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses! The final planned flight of space shuttle Discovery is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-133. Available in our store! U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Special shuttle history patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses! This special commemorative patch marks the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Available in our store! U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Ares Patch The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem. U.S. STORE One Giant Leap
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE STS-134 Patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses! The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store! U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE
The final planned flight of space shuttle Discovery is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-133. Available in our store!
U.S. STORE
This special commemorative patch marks the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Available in our store!
The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.
The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!
VIDEO:
PROGRESS 38P FREIGHTER LAUNCHED 
