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Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. Atlas launch preview Preview the launch of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2AS rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft with this narrated animation package. (2min 22sec file) Play video Sunday's Atlas scrub Unacceptable weather conditions force the Atlas rocket's countdown to be stopped at T-minus 90 seconds on August 29. (1min 36sec file) Play video Saturday's Atlas scrub A shortage of liquid oxygen caused by a mis-configured valve prompts Lockheed Martin to scrub the August 28 attempt to launch the final Atlas 2AS rocket from Cape Canaveral. (1min 26sec file) Play video Space shuttle update NASA's William Readdy, Space Operations associate administrator and Bill Parsons, space shuttle program manager, provide a status report on returning the shuttles to flight in this teleconference with reporters held on the one-year anniversary since the CAIB report was issued. (37min 35sec file) Play audio Station update To mark one year since the publication of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board final report, William Gerstenmaier, International Space Station program
manager, updates the news media on the status of the project. (42min 41sec file) Play audio Titan 4 rollout The Titan 4 rocket emerges from the Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness Facility at Cape Canaveral at about 5:45 a.m. August 25 for rollout to the Complex 40 pad. (3min 58sec file) Play video On the launch pad Riding on its mobile launching platform, the Titan 4 rocket arrives at the pad just before sunrise. (5min 22sec file) Play video Sunrise over Titan 4 As dawn breaks over Cape Canaveral, these daylight scenes show the Titan 4 on Complex 40 in preparation for the final Florida launch of this heavy-lift rocket. (2min 11sec file) Play video Return of Genesis NASA's Genesis spacecraft will return to Earth on Sept. 8 with a capsule containing samples collected of solar wind. Officials preview the dramatic homecoming in this news conference. (50min 50sec file) Play video Become a subscriber More video
Sunday:
August 29, 2004
0357 GMT
Valve error delays Atlas rocket launch to Sunday
A mis-configured valve in launch pad plumbing caused about 10,000 gallons of liquid oxygen to escape through a dump valve during fueling operations Saturday, forcing officials to scrub the flight of Lockheed Martin's last Atlas 2AS rocket. Launch is rescheduled for 6:57 p.m. EDT (2257 GMT) Sunday. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates!
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SATURDAY'S COUNTDOWN IS SCRUBBED QT SUBSCRIBE NOW
Hurricane Frances seen from the space station
These photos of Hurricane Frances were taken by Astronaut Mike Fincke aboard the International Space Station as he flew 230 statute miles above the storm. FULL STORY THIS WEEK'S ISS STATUS REPORT
Saturday:
August 28, 2004
0303 GMT
Precautionary battery check scrubs Atlas launch
Launch of the final Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket was delayed until Saturday evening so engineers could conduct extra tests on the booster's batteries. Once launched from Cape Canaveral, the rocket will carry a secret U.S. national security satellite into Earth orbit. MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates! LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ATLAS 2AS LAUNCH RECORD
South polar storms on Saturn spotted by Cassini
This Cassini spacecraft narrow angle camera view of Saturn's southern polar region features a bright white spot, or storm, surrounded by faint, darker swirls of clouds. FULL STORY
Friday:
August 27, 2004
0200 GMT
Final Atlas 2AS to launch Friday, weather permitting
Mother Nature could play a pivotal role in Friday's countdown to launch of Lockheed Martin's last Atlas 2AS rocket carrying a secret national security satellite, but officials have a few tricks up their sleeves to avoid delays during pre-flight preparations at Cape Canaveral's pad 36A. MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE GROUND TRACK MAP ATLAS 2AS LAUNCH RECORD
Boeing's Delta 4-Heavy rocket is revealed
Boeing's 23-story tall Delta 4-Heavy rocket is fully assembled atop Cape Canaveral's pad 37B. The powerful booster is scheduled for launch this fall on a demonstration flight. This collection of images taken by photographer Carleton Bailie includes aerial views from a helicopter and from various vantage points around the pad. ENTER PHOTO GALLERY
OTHER HEADLINES Additional stories today
MESSENGER completes first trajectory correction maneuver -- MESSENGER has performed its first planned maneuver when the Mercury-bound probe's thrusters ignited to correct trajectory inaccuracies associated with launch. Scientists meet to review Envisat results -- From September 6 to 10 in Salzburg, Austria, over 700 scientists from 50 countries worldwide will meet to review and discuss the early results of the European Space Agency's Envisat satellite mission.
Thursday:
August 26, 2004
0040 GMT
History-making Titan 4 rocket put on the pad
By the time the sun rose over Cape Canaveral Wednesday a bittersweet moment had finally arrived for hundreds of workers as the final Titan 4 rocket to fly from the Florida spaceport reached its launch pad. FULL STORY SEE OUR TITAN ARCHIVE
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TITAN 4 ROCKET EMERGES FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING QT VIDEO:
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Odyssey begins overtime after successful mission
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter began working overtime Wednesday after completing a prime mission that discovered vast supplies of frozen water, ran a safety check for future astronauts, and mapped surface textures and minerals all over Mars, among other feats. FULL STORY
Radar test may help space shuttle return
Radar tracking data gathered during the Delta 2 launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft earlier this month has provided promising results that may benefit NASA's space shuttle program and Discovery's return to flight. FULL STORY
Wednesday:
August 25, 2004
0431 GMT
Tiny 'David' telescope finds 'Goliath' planet
Fifteen years ago, the largest telescopes in the world had yet to locate a planet orbiting another star. Today telescopes no larger than those available in department stores are proving capable of spotting previously unknown worlds. A newfound planet detected by a small, 4-inch-diameter telescope demonstrates that we are at the cusp of a new age of planet discovery. FULL STORY
Meteorites supplied Earth life with phosphorus
University of Arizona scientists have discovered that meteorites, particularly iron meteorites, may have been critical to the evolution of life on Earth. FULL STORY
Tuesday:
August 24, 2004
1600 GMT
Thunderstorms are main concern for Atlas launch
Air Force meteorologists today issued their first weather forecast for Friday evening's scheduled launch of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2AS rocket carrying a classified national security spacecraft. MISSION STATUS CENTER
Cassini conducts major orbit adjustment maneuver
The Cassini spacecraft successfully completed a 51-minute engine burn that will raise its next closest approach distance to Saturn by nearly 186,000 miles. The maneuver was necessary to keep the spacecraft from passing through the rings and to put it on target for its first close encounter with Saturn's moon Titan on Oct. 26. FULL STORY
Deepest image of exploded star uncovers bipolar jets
A spectacular new image of Cassiopeia A released Monday from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has nearly 200 times more data than the "First Light" Chandra image of this object made five years ago. The new image reveals clues that the initial explosion, caused by the collapse of a massive star, was far more complicated than suspected. FULL STORY
OTHER HEADLINES Additional stories today
Telstar 18 enters full commercial service over Asia -- Telstar 18, a powerful and flexible satellite designed to provide communication services across Asia, has completed its in-orbit testing and is now fully operational. The craft reached a lower than planned orbit during launch in June, but controllers were able to raise the satellite to its proper orbital position at 138 degrees East longitude.
Monday:
August 23, 2004
0112 GMT
Streaking away from Dione
Saturn's crescent moon Dione hangs before the Cassini spacecraft in this magnified image. The icy moon shows a hint of the bright, wispy features that mark its surface. FULL STORY
A galaxy's fatal plunge
These images offer a dramatic look at C153, a galaxy being ripped apart as it races at 4.5 million miles per hour through a distant cluster of galaxies. The infalling galaxy's gas is being stripped by the pressure of 20-million-degree Celsius gas that permeates the cluster. FULL STORY
News Archive Aug. 16-22: Out from the shadows: Two new Saturnian moons; Latest color pictures from Cassini look like artwork; Bedrock in Mars' Gusev Crater hints at watery past; How old is the Milky Way?; Disk shows signs of planets; Final engine test-fired for shuttle return to flight. Aug. 9-15: Jupiter's moon Ganymede has a lumpy interior; Giant vortices found near Earth by Cluster satellites; Spitzer shows dying star that goes out with a ring; International Space Station receives resupply ship; Chandra catches early phase of cosmic assembly. More news See our weekly archive of space news. Gemini 7 Gemini 7: The NASA Mission Reports covers this 14-day mission by Borman and Lovell as they demonstrated some of the more essential facts of space flight. Includes CD-ROM. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Apollo patches The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Apollo 9 DVD On the road to the moon, the mission of Apollo 9 stands as an important gateway in experience and procedures. This 2-DVD collection presents the crucial mission on the voyage to the moon. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Columbia Report The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM. Choose your store: U.S. Apollo 12 tribute DVD set New!
Featuring the jovial crew of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 mission was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff but proceeded on the second successful exploration voyage to the lunar surface. This three-disc DVD brings the mission to life with extraordinary detail. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Fallen Heroes special patch This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Women in Space Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Mars rover poster This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Choose your store: U.S. Get e-mail updates
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose). Columbia Report A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Mars Panorama DISCOUNTED! This 360 degree image was taken by the Mars Pathfinder, which landed on the Red Planet in July 1997. The Sojourner Rover is visible in the image. Choose your store: U.S. Apollo 11 Mission Report Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD! Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Rocket DVD If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD. Choose your store: U.S. -
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Worldwide Final Shuttle Mission Patch Free shipping to U.S. addresses! The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history! 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 Ares 1-X Patch The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Apollo Collage This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Project Orion The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon. U.S. STORE Fallen Heroes Patch Collection The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store. U.S. STORE WORLDWIDE STORE Contact us
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Gemini 7: The NASA Mission Reports covers this 14-day mission by Borman and Lovell as they demonstrated some of the more essential facts of space flight. Includes CD-ROM.
Choose your store:
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price. 
A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online.
On the road to the moon, the mission of Apollo 9 stands as an important gateway in experience and procedures. This 2-DVD collection presents the crucial mission on the voyage to the moon.
The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM.
This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.
Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM.
This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
A reproduction of the official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. 
Apollo 11 - The NASA Mission Reports Vol. 3 is the first comprehensive study of man's first mission to another world is revealed in all of its startling complexity. Includes DVD!
If you've ever watched a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base or even Kodiak Island Alaska, there's no better way to describe what you witnessed than with this DVD.
The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history!
The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!
The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.
This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
Preview the launch of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 2AS rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office spacecraft with this narrated animation package. (2min 22sec file)
Unacceptable weather conditions force the Atlas rocket's countdown to be stopped at T-minus 90 seconds on August 29. (1min 36sec file)
A shortage of liquid oxygen caused by a mis-configured valve prompts Lockheed Martin to scrub the August 28 attempt to launch the final Atlas 2AS rocket from Cape Canaveral. (1min 26sec file)
NASA's William Readdy, Space Operations associate administrator and Bill Parsons, space shuttle program manager, provide a status report on returning the shuttles to flight in this teleconference with reporters held on the one-year anniversary since the CAIB report was issued. (37min 35sec file)
To mark one year since the publication of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board final report, William Gerstenmaier, International Space Station program
manager, updates the news media on the status of the project. (42min 41sec file)
The Titan 4 rocket emerges from the Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness Facility at Cape Canaveral at about 5:45 a.m. August 25 for rollout to the Complex 40 pad. (3min 58sec file)
Riding on its mobile launching platform, the Titan 4 rocket arrives at the pad just before sunrise. (5min 22sec file)
As dawn breaks over Cape Canaveral, these daylight scenes show the Titan 4 on Complex 40 in preparation for the final Florida launch of this heavy-lift rocket. (2min 11sec file)
NASA's Genesis spacecraft will return to Earth on Sept. 8 with a capsule containing samples collected of solar wind. Officials preview the dramatic homecoming in this news conference. (50min 50sec file)
