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Phoenix landing preview
Less than two weeks before the Phoenix spacecraft arrives at Mars, this previews the landing and the planned science on the planet's surface.
Presentation | Q&A
STS-82: In review
The second servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope was accomplished in Feb. 1997 when the shuttle astronauts replaced a pair of instruments and other internal equipment on the observatory.
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STS-81: In review
The fifth shuttle docking mission to the space station Mir launched astronaut Jerry Linenger to begin his long-duration stay on the complex and brought John Blaha back to Earth.
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Discovery rolls out
Discovery travels from the Vehicle Assembly Building to pad 39A in preparation for the STS-124 mission.
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STS-124: The programs
In advance of shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission to the station, managers from both programs discuss the flight.
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STS-124: The mission
A detailed preview of Discovery's mission to deliver Japan's science laboratory Kibo to the station is provided in this briefing.
Part 1 | Part 2
STS-124: Spacewalks
Three spacewalks are planned during Discovery's STS-124 assembly mission to the station.
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STS-124: The Crew
The Discovery astronauts, led by commander Mark Kelly, meet the press in the traditional pre-flight news conference.
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Discovery to VAB
For its STS-124 mission, shuttle Discovery was transferred from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building for attachment to a fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters.
Transfer | Hoist
Complex 40 toppling
The Complex 40 mobile service tower at Cape Canaveral's former Titan rocket launch pad was toppled using explosives on April 27.
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Cargo ship begins flight to the space station
BY JUSTIN RAY
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: May 14, 2008
A Russian freighter packed with fresh supplies for the international space station successfully rocketed away from Earth today and immediately began plotting a two-day trek to the orbiting outpost.
The Progress M-64 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:22 p.m. EDT (2022 GMT) atop a three-stage Soyuz booster.
The 24-foot long ship, known in the station's assembly matrix as Progress mission 29P, reached its preliminary orbit nine minutes after liftoff and separated from the launcher's spent upper stage.
The Progress M-64 is seen here during preparations for its launch. Credit: Energia
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Onboard commands extended the Progress craft's two power-generating solar arrays that span 35 feet and unfurled communications and navigation antennas.
A series of precise engine firings over the next two days will guide the Progress into the station's orbit for an automated docking around 5:36 p.m. EDT (2136 GMT) Friday. It will link up with the Earth-facing port on the Zarya control module.
The cargo craft is loaded with 4,657 pounds of supplies. The "dry" cargo amounts to 2,850 pounds in the form of spare parts, life support gear and equipment hardware.
The refueling module carries 772 pounds of propellant for transfer into the Russian segment of the complex to feed the station's maneuvering thrusters.
To replenish the station's oxygen supply, the Progress is bringing 63 pounds of oxygen and 46 pounds of air. And the vessel has 926 pounds of water.
The space station is occupied by the Expedition 17 crew of commander Sergei Volkov, flight engineer Oleg Kononenko and NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman. Volkov will be standing by Friday to manually dock the Progress if the automated system experiences a problem.
The following timeline shows the key events scheduled from launch until docking for the Progress freighter:
Day 1 events - Wednesday
| Event | Mission Time | Eastern Time |
| LAUNCH | 0/00:00:00 | 4:22:54 p.m. |
| Orbit Insertion | 0/00:08:45 | 4:31:39 p.m. |
Maneuver DV1
(18.67 m/s) | 0/03:34:59 | 7:57:53 p.m. |
Maneuver DV2
(26.12 m/s) | 0/04:16:38 | 8:39:32 p.m. |
Day 2 events -Thursday
| Event | Mission Time | Eastern Time |
Maneuver DV3
(2.00 m/s) | 1/00:42:49 | 5:05:43 p.m. |
Day 3 events - Friday
| Event | Mission Time | Eastern Time |
Start Automated
Rendezvous | 1/22:54:51 | 3:17:45 p.m. |
Station maneuver
to docking attitude | 1/22:57:06 | 3:20:00 p.m. |
DV4 / Impulse 1
(10.15 m/s) | 1/23:16:42 | 3:39:36 p.m. |
Impulse 2
(1.22 m/s) | 1/23:39:57 | 4:02:51 p.m. |
Progress Kurs-A
activation | 1/23:41:06 | 4:04:00 p.m. |
Zvezda Kurs-P
activation | 1/23:43:06 | 4:06:00 p.m. |
DV5 / Impulse 3
(9.84 m/s) | 2/00:01:03 | 4:23:57 p.m. |
Kurs-A and Kurs-P
short test
(15 km) | 2/00:26:51 | 4:49:45 p.m. |
VHF-2 activation
Range 9 km | 2/00:32:31 | 4:55:25 p.m. |
Progress TV
activation
Range 8 km | 2/00:33:51 | 4:56:45 p.m. |
Impulse 4
(6.99 m/s) | 2/00:41:46 | 5:04:40 p.m. |
Ballistic Targeting
Point | 2/00:44:51 | 5:07:45 p.m. |
Impulse 5
(5.18 m/s) | 2/00:46:44 | 5:09:38 p.m. |
Impulse 6
(2.22 m/s) | 2/00:49:12 | 5:12:06 p.m. |
Start flyaround
mode | 2/00:51:09 | 5:14:03 p.m. |
| Start stationkeeping | 2/01:00:09 | 5:23:03 p.m. |
| Start final approach | 2/01:04:36 | 5:27:30 p.m. |
| Orbital sunset | 2/01:12:31 | 5:35:25 p.m. |
| DOCKING | 2/01:13:36 | 5:36:30 p.m. |
Data source: NASA.
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Expedition 20
 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.
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Current Shuttle Mission Patch
 The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
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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.
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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.
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Expedition 21
 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.
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