Russia set to resume manned spaceflight after failures

2011-11-13T11:30:18Z

Russia will on Monday launch three astronauts for the International Space Station on a key mission Moscow hopes will restore faith in its space programme after an unprecedented string of failures.

Two Russians and one American will blast off on a Soyuz-FG rocket from Russia's Russia on Monday launches three astronauts for the International Space Station on a key mission Moscow hopes will restore faith in its space programme after an unprecedented string of failures.

Two Russians and one American will blast off on a Soyuz-FG rocket from Russia's

Kodak sells image sensor business to Platinum Equity

2011-11-07T17:00:27Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eastman Kodak said it sold its Image Sensor Solutions business to Platinum Equity for an undisclosed sum in a move that will provide it with much needed capital as it grapples with a dwindling cash pile...

NASA's space shuttle operations chief heading to Virgin

2011-10-11T17:30:10Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Deputy space shuttle program manager and former flight director Mike Moses is leaving NASA to oversee operations for Virgin Galactic, the commercial spac...

Shot US lawmaker honors astronaut husband

2011-10-06T20:30:52Z

US lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head earlier this year, honored her NASA astronaut husband Mark Kelly Thursday, at his White House naval retirement ceremony.

Captain Kelly, who commanded one of the final space shuttle missions months after his ...

Giffords awards medal to astronaut husband in Washington

2011-10-06T14:30:15Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Representative Gabrielle Giffords gave her astronaut husband a medal at his retirement ceremony on Thursday and got a warm welcome on her second visit to Washington since a gunman tried to kill her in January.

Giffords, who is recovering fro...

Defunct NASA satellite to crash to Earth this week

2011-09-19T14:00:17Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A defunct NASA science satellite is expected to fall back to Earth on Friday, showering debris somewhere on the planet although scientists cannot predict exactly where, officials said.

The 6.5-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, wa...

Space food, shuttle tiles for sale by NASA

2011-09-12T16:30:15Z

The US space agency is offering schools and universities a special deal on astronaut cuisine and heat tiles from the now extinct space shuttles, just over 20 dollars a pack, NASA said Monday.

"The lightweight tiles protected the shuttles from extreme temperatures when the orbiters re-entered the Earth's atmosphere," NASA said in a statement.

"The food, which was precooked or proc...

US astronaut shortage 'poses risks'

2011-09-07T13:30:25Z

The United States does not have enough astronauts to meet the changing needs of human spaceflight in the coming years, warned a report Wednesday by a non-profit group that advises on science policy.

The shrinking American astronaut corps poses risks to the US investment in human spaceflight and NASA should take steps to boost the size of its space-flying crew, the

Baker Hughes recruits ex-NASA employees

2011-09-01T12:30:36Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Baker Hughes Inc, which specializes in extracting oil and gas from under the ground, wants to hire people who once explored beyond Earth.

The oilfield services company held a two-day event this week to recruit current and former workers at anot...

SpaceX plans November test flight to space station

2011-08-15T19:30:32Z

California-based rocket maker SpaceX said that it will make a test flight in late November to the International Space Station, now that NASA has retired its space shuttle program.

"SpaceX has...

NASA confirms space shuttle debris found in Texas

2011-08-04T11:30:15Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA confirmed on Thursday that a large piece of debris from space shuttle Columbia, which was destroyed in 2003, has b...

US shuttle debris surfaces amid Texas drought

2011-08-02T18:30:19Z

A piece of the ill-fated space shuttle Columbia has surfaced in eastern Texas, where a severe drought has dried up a lake and exposed debris from the 2003 accident, NASA said Tuesday.

The globe-shaped object that turned up in Lake Nacogdoches, north of Ho...

Texas drought exposes possible Space Shuttle Columbia piece

2011-08-02T10:00:25Z

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - The prolonged drought in Texas has revealed what officials think may be a piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia, which broke apart over east Texas as it reentered the atmosphere in 2003.

Greg So...

A hunger to explore

2011-07-27T02:32:53Z

Space shuttle's final flight marks a remarkable 30-year journey

Millions of Americans followed the space shuttle Atlantis' final mission this week, which was the last of the 30-year-old shuttle program. Atlantis touched down early Thursday in Florida and was showered with accolades.The attention was well deserved. The shu...

With space shuttle era over, U.S. robot set for Mars

2011-07-22T13:30:48Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA moved to a new chapter in space exploration on Friday, a day after the end of its shuttle program, by announcing details of plans to determine if Mars has or ever had the ingr...

With space shuttle era over, robot set for Mars

2011-07-22T13:00:13Z

End of an era for US spaceflight as Atlantis lands

2011-07-21T14:30:34Z

The shuttle Atlantis cruised home for a final time Thursday, ending its last mission to the International Space Station and closing a 30-year chapter in American space exploration.

Under cover of darkness, the shuttle glided seamlessly to a predawn landing at CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Most Americans still think their country should play a dominant role in space exploration, a new poll showed on Thursday as the 30-year U.S. space shuttle program came to an end.

The national survey released by CNN<...

Russia declares 'era of Soyuz' after shuttle

2011-07-21T11:30:23Z

Moscow on Thursday declared it was now "the era of the Soyuz" after the US shuttle's last flight left the Russian system as the sole means for delivering astronauts to the International Space Station.

Far less glamorous than the horizontal-landing winged shuttle, the principle of

Emotional shuttle crew say goodbye to "old friend"

2011-07-21T11:00:09Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The end of the U.S. space shuttle program launched the Atlantis crew on an emotional roller coaster on Thursday, with pride at a successful finale vying with sadness that their 30-year undertaking is over.

The

2011-07-21T02:31:02Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA downsized the crew for the final flight of its shuttle program as a safety precaution.

Instead of the usual six- or seven-person crew, only four astronauts were aboard the CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The shuttle Atlantis astronauts closed their spaceship's cargo bay doors on Thursday, aiming to conclude the final U.S. space shuttle mission with...

Crew of Atlantis shuttle awakes to prepare for landing

2011-07-20T20:30:28Z

The Atlantis crew woke to the song "God Bless America" at 0129 GMT early Thursday as they prepared to make the final touch down in NASA's 30 year shuttle program.

The shuttle was set to land early Thursday at 5:56 am (0956 GMT), 42 years after US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.

Shuttle Atlantis counts down to final landing

2011-07-20T18:30:19Z

Atlantis made its final laps around the Earth on Wednesday as NASA prepared to bring down the curtain on its 30-year shuttle program.

The shuttle was set to touch down early Thursday at 5:56 am (0956 GMT), 42 years after US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step fo...

Space shuttles will soon be museum pieces

2011-07-20T17:30:12Z

The end of the US space shuttle program brings the start of a new chapter for the remaining orbiters, which will soon take up residence as museum pieces in Florida, Virginia, California and New York.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - As the United States prepares to end its space shuttle program, technologies developed to nurture the reusable spaceships through three decades of flight will live on in day-to-day use on Earth.

Atlantis undocked Tuesday from the International Space Station, wrapping up the last visit by a US shuttle to the orbiting outpost and setting its sights on an emotional homecoming.

With a spectacular orbital sunrise illuminating a vessel in the sunset o...

Last U.S. space shuttle leaves station

2011-07-19T02:00:38Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The last U.S. space shuttle departed the International Space Station on Tuesday, endin...

NASA inks agreement with maker of Atlas V rocket

2011-07-18T20:30:14Z

NASA said Monday that it had reached an agreement with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to try to adopt the Atlas V commercial rocket to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Atlantis bade a bittersweet farewell to astronauts on the International Space Station Monday, wrapping up the final visit by a space shuttle to the orbiting outpost.

As the shuttle age draws to a close after 37 dramatic rendezvous, their crews held a moving ceremony, exchanging embraces and kisses before sh...

Space shuttle prepares to depart station for last time

2011-07-18T12:00:30Z

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The crew of NASA's final space shuttle mission closed the hatch to the International Space Station for the final time on Monday in preparation for the shuttle's last flight back to...

US astronauts somber as shuttle era comes to an end

2011-07-18T05:30:14Z

The Atlantis roars back to Earth this week ending America's vaunted space shuttle program and frustrating a generation of astronauts who see their chance to soar into the cosmos sharply limited.

US astronauts bound for space will now have to hitch a ride on the Russian Soyuz rocket, at more than $50 million per seat, until a new US space craft -- a c...

Obama dials for pizza, gets space station

2011-07-15T21:30:09Z

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station got a very long-distance call Friday from US President Barack Obama, who joked that he thought he was dialing out for pizza.

Hot from giving a press conference at which he pushed Republicans to reach a deal on raising the US debt ceiling, the American president took t...

NASA brings orbital dining down to Earth

2011-07-15T10:02:12Z

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Armchair astronauts can take their dreams to the dining table on Thursday -- NASA is hosting a virtual dinner with the shuttle Atlantis crew.

The dinner will include brie cheese, sausage and crackers to...

U.S. astronauts gird for post-shuttle era

2011-07-15T09:31:36Z

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former chief astronaut Steve Lindsey announced his retirement on Thursday, the latest in a series of departures from the ranks of NASA's elite corps spurred by the end of the space shuttle program.

For the US astronauts will be a lot like squeezing into a three-seat compact car, made by Russia, for a very long road trip.

With the shuttle program ending once Atlantis returns to Earth on July 21, US astronauts will be flying much less often to the Elton John's "Rocket Man" was played Wednesday to wake up the crew aboard the International Space Station, with the shuttle Atlantis docked on its last mission.

"I think it's going to be a long, long time," echoed the recording of the hit song, first released in 19...

Atlantis crew unpacks, rocks out to "Rocket Man"

2011-07-13T13:30:23Z

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The crew of NASA's final space shuttle mission restocked the International Space Station with tons of supplies on Wednesday after waking to the music of

US shuttle era finishes with final spacewalk

2011-07-12T19:30:42Z

Two US astronauts have wrapped up the last spacewalk of the shuttle era at the International Space Station, where Atlantis is docked on the final mission of the 30-year US program.

Americans Ron Garan and

Last spacewalk of US shuttle era ends

2011-07-12T18:30:33Z

Two US astronauts wrapped up the last spacewalk of the shuttle era Tuesday at the International Space Station, where Atlantis is docked on the final mission of the 30-year US program.

Americans Ron Garan and

US astronauts set for last shuttle era spacewalk

2011-07-11T19:30:34Z

Two US astronauts were to step out on the last spacewalk of the shuttle era Tuesday at the International Space Station where Atlantis is docked for a final time as the US program winds down after 30 years.

Americans Ron ...

NASA adds extra day to Atlantis mission

2011-07-11T18:30:27Z

Astronauts aboard the shuttle Atlantis will get one extra day in space as they restock the International Space Station with a year's worth of food and supplies, NASA said Monday.

The final shuttle mission before the US program formally ends after 30 years will now last ...

Astronauts to unload tons of supplies at space lab

2011-07-11T13:30:34Z

Astronauts prepared to unload a year's worth of supplies at the International Space Station after NASA said Monday a piece of Soviet space debris was not likely to collide with orbiting lab.

The US space agency said it was tracking the space junk on Sunday, shortly after the Reuters) - With the end of the space shuttle program, the U.S. government intends to stimulate development of private space transportation and also to lay the foundation for an entire new industry to service satellites in orbit.

The Robotic Refueling Mission flying aboard the NASA is tracking a piece of Soviet space debris that could collide with the International Space Station, the US space agency said after the shuttle Atlantis docked on its final mission.

The space junk is part of Cosmos 375, a ...

NASA tracking space debris in space station's path

2011-07-10T18:30:18Z

The US space agency is tracking a piece of space junk that could be on a path toward the International Space Station, where the shuttle Atlantis has just docked on its final mission, NASA said Sunday.

However, NASA is not read...

Atlantis heads to space station on final flight

2011-07-09T16:00:19Z

Atlantis headed to the International Space Station Saturday after rocketing off its launch pad for a final time, marking the last liftoff of the US space shuttle program.

The space shuttle, which lifted off shortly before noon Friday local time, is carrying a crew of four US astronauts on a 12-day mission to re-stock the orbiting lab.

On Saturday the International Space Station Saturday after it rocketed off the launch pad for a final time, marking the last-ever liftoff of the US space shuttle program.

The storied spacecraft is carrying a crew of four US astronauts on a 12-day mission to re-stock the orbiting lab, where it is due to dock on Sunday.

The mission marks the end of an era in human spaceflight. The <...

Obama hails final shuttle flight, eyes Mars next

2011-07-08T17:30:28Z

President Barack Obama gave Atlantis an inspirational final sendoff Friday, hailing astronauts and crew of the 30-year shuttle program and evoking "new boundaries" in space, notably a mission to Mars.

Millions of Americans paused to watch on television as rain clouds parted long enough to allow the storied shuttle to blast into orbit for a final time.<...

Atlantis blasts off on end-of-era spaceflight

2011-07-08T17:30:19Z

Atlantis blazed a path into history Friday as it rocketed off the launch pad for a final time, marking the last-ever liftoff of the 30-year-old American space shuttle program.

The storied spacecraft is carrying a crew of four US astronauts toward the International Space St...

Space shuttle leaves Earth on final flight

2011-07-08T10:30:48Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis rocketed off its seaside launch pad on Friday, rising atop a tower of smoke and flames as it left Earth on the shuttle program's final f...

Final liftoff set to end U.S. space shuttle era

2011-07-07T22:30:05Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis was set to rocket off its seaside launch pad in Florida on Friday on the final flight in t...

Tourists jam Florida for last shuttle launch

2011-07-07T19:30:50Z

Tourists crowded into central Florida on Thursday as NASA forged ahead with plans to launch Atlantis on the final mission of the US shuttle program despite stormy weather.

Up to 750,000 people are expected to pack NASA's post-shuttle aspirations, key US lawmakers voted Thursday to kill off funding for the successor to the vastly successful space-gazing Hubble telescope.

The US House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Sci...

Shuttle's end a blow to Florida's "Space Coast"

2011-07-07T13:30:15Z

TITUSVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - The end of the U.S. space shuttle program is the end of the line for Tom Brown and other workers like him at the Kennedy...

Gloomy weather could delay Friday shuttle launch

2011-07-06T18:30:29Z

Stormy weather could postpone the last-ever flight of the US shuttle program by delaying Atlantis's final mission to the International Space Station a day or two, NASA said Wednesday.

A tropical storm system moving north from the Ca...

NASA needs new 'breakthrough,' says Obama

2011-07-06T17:30:22Z

NASA needs new technology breakthroughs to revitalize its mission to explore the universe, President Barack Obama said Wednesday as the shuttle Atlantis was preparing for its final mission.

Asked during his first-ever Twitter town hall meeting a...

Countdown starts for NASA's last shuttle launch

2011-07-05T12:30:14Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Countdown clocks at the Kennedy Space Center began ticking on Tuesday toward the final flight in the 30-year-old U.S. space shuttle program, a cargo run to the CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - As the clock ticks down to this week's final space shuttle launch, there is a mounting sense of uncertainty about future U.S. dominance in space.

If all goes according to plan, Friday morning's launch of CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Four veteran astronauts landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday to prepare for the launch of NASA<...

In Florida, end of space shuttle program hits hard

2011-07-03T18:30:31Z

The booming tourist area and haven for high-tech NASA jobs known as the "Space Coast" is struggling with sadness, bitterness and fear for the future as the US shuttle program draws to a close.

Three decades of human spaceflight driven by the iconic shuttle program have fueled growth in this Atlantic coast beach community, but the end of those glory days are hurtling closer with the fin...

Shuttle Atlantis prepares to rocket into history

2011-07-03T16:30:20Z

The shuttle Atlantis is poised to launch Friday on the final flight of the 30-year American program, a journey that marks the end of an era of US dominance in human space exploration.

The liftoff is scheduled for July 8 at 11:26 am (1526 GMT) from Kennedy Space Center

Witness: Practice key to risky, high-speed shuttle landing

2011-07-03T08:30:13Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - I have watched as space shuttles nosedive toward the runway more than 100 times, knowing that there are no engines available to carry them back into the sky if something goes wrong.

When the ships glide home in a quiet countermove to their thunderous liftoff, it is not without drama.<...

NASA bids farewell to "amazing" relic, the shuttle

2011-06-30T09:30:15Z

MIAMI (Reuters) - When the United States embarked on its shuttle program decades ago, it set out to build a workhorse vehicle that would make space travel routine and beat the Soviets during the Cold War struggle for dominance in space.

The resulting spaceship had 2.5 million part...

Shuttle Atlantis ready to fly July 8: NASA

2011-06-28T17:30:26Z

The shuttle Atlantis is ready to fly on its final mission to the International Space Station on July 8, NASA said Tuesday after a meeting to review plans for last-ever US space shuttle flight.

The shuttle is set to take off fr...

NASA clears last space shuttle for July 8 blast-off

2011-06-28T15:30:38Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA managers cleared space shuttle Atlantis on Tuesday for a July 8 launch, approving it for a cargo run to the

Astronauts practice for NASA's last shuttle launch

2011-06-23T14:00:15Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Four U.S. astronauts in bright orange spacesuits climbed aboard their spaceship on Thursday to practice the launch of NASA's last space shuttle on a cargo run to the Mark Kelly, the US astronaut who commanded the final flight by the shuttle Endeavour, announced Tuesday he is retiring to spend more time with his lawmaker wife as she recovers from a gunshot wound to the head.

"Today, I am humbled to announce that after 25 years of service to our country, I am re...

Mark Kelly retires from Navy to be with Giffords

2011-06-21T10:00:12Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Captain Mark Kelly, the astronaut who commanded the last Space Shuttle Endeavour flight into space and the husband of Ga...

NASA fuels shuttle for test before last launch

2011-06-15T14:00:13Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Workers at the Kennedy Space Center filled the fuel tank of the space shuttle Atlanti...

Soyuz docks at ISS carrying Russian, US, Japanese astronauts

2011-06-09T20:30:42Z

A Soyuz spacecraft with a Russian, a US and a Japanese astronaut aboard docked Thursday at the International Space Station, the Russian control centre said.

"The Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft docked at the ISS automatically" around 1:20 am Moscow time on Friday (2120 GMT Thursday), said

Multinational crew arrives at space station

2011-06-09T15:30:11Z

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A Russian Soyuz capsule with a three-man multinational crew arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday to begin a six-month mission ...

Soyuz heads to ISS carrying Russian, US, Japanese astronauts

2011-06-07T20:30:23Z

A Soyuz spacecraft lifted off on Tuesday with a Russian, a US and a Japanese astronaut aboard headed for the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacecraft carrying American Mike Fossum, Russian Sergei Volkov and Satoshi Furukawa of

NASA releases first photo of shuttle docked in space

2011-06-07T17:30:22Z

NASA on Tuesday released the first ever pictures of a US space shuttle docked at the International Space Station, taken by astronauts aboard a departing Russian spacecraft last month.

The shots of the Reuters) - Boeing Co has issued 60-day advance layoff notices to about 510 employees in its Space Exploration division as the United States' space shuttle program draws to a close.

The last workday for workers is scheduled to be August 5, pending completion of the fin...

Shuttle Endeavour lands after its last mission

2011-06-01T08:30:22Z

The space shuttle Endeavour glided home for its final landing early Wednesday and the conclusion of the next to last mission of the 30-year-old US shuttle program.

Endeavour and its crew of six astronauts -- five Americans and one Italian -- made a nighttime touchdown at Flor...

Shuttle Endeavour prepares for final glide home

2011-05-31T20:31:02Z

US space shuttle Endeavour prepared for its final landing early Wednesday, becoming the second American shuttle to enter retirement as the program draws to a close after 30 years.

Endeavour and its crew of six astronauts -- five Americans and one Italian -- were to glide in for a nighttime touchdown at Florida's Kennedy Space Center...

NASA rolls out shuttle Atlantis for final time

2011-05-31T18:30:15Z

The US space agency sent its last shuttle, Atlantis, out to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center so it can prepare for the final launch of the American shuttle program in July.

The shuttle began its trek at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT) on Tuesday.

The familiar ritual of rolling a m...

US astronaut fears 'memory' gap after shuttle ends

2011-05-31T17:30:30Z

US astronaut Mark Kelly, who is commanding the shuttle Endeavour's final space flight, said Tuesday he is concerned about a drain of NASA talent once the US shuttle program ends later this year.

"I think what is always at risk is, as we transition to a new p...

Shuttle Endeavour leaves International Space Station

2011-05-30T05:30:21Z

The US space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station and headed back to Earth, wrapping up its final journey before entering retirement, NASA said.

Endeavour's last mission is the penultimate flight f...

Shuttle Endeavour prepares to leave space station

2011-05-29T12:30:09Z

The US space shuttle Endeavour on Sunday prepared to undock from the International Space Station and jet back to Earth, wrapping up its final journey before entering retirement, NASA said.

Endeavour's last mission is the pen...

Endeavour spacewalk marks 1,000 hours on station work

2011-05-27T09:30:37Z

The crew of the US space shuttle Endeavour wrapped up their fourth and final spacewalk Friday, a walkabout that surpassed the 1,000th hour of such trips to build the International Space Station.

The marathon seven hour, 24 minute spacewalk began at 7:39 am (0415 GMT) and mission specialists Mike Fincke and <...

US astronaut grapples with 'tears in space'

2011-05-25T14:30:36Z

A US astronaut Drew Feustel learned a valuable lesson about being teary-eyed on a spacewalk, NASA said Wednesday after the Endeavour crew's third jaunt outside the International Space Station.

"Tears in space don't run down your face," he said, a...

Space crew lands safely on Kazakh steppe

2011-05-23T21:00:07Z

ALMATY (Reuters) - A Russian Soyuz capsule delivered an international trio of astronauts back to Earth Tuesday after six months on the International Space Station, parachuting through clear skies toward a safe...

Endeavour astronauts wrap up second space walk

2011-05-22T17:30:30Z

Two astronauts completed a second of four scheduled space walks of the Endeavour shuttle's final mission to the International Space Station on Sunday, the US space agency said.

Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke wrapped up their eight-hour, seven-minute spacewalk at 1412 GMT after refilling radiators ...

Shuttle astronauts begin second space walk

2011-05-22T09:30:38Z

Two astronauts on Sunday began a second of four scheduled space walks of the Endeavour shuttle's final mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency announced.

Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke emerged from a decompression chamber at 0605 GMT, or 11 minutes ahead of schedule, ...

ISS astronauts inspect tile damage, chat with pope

2011-05-21T17:30:14Z

NASA took a closer look Saturday at a damaged heat shield tile on the underbelly of the space shuttle Endeavour, after astronauts chatted with Pope Benedict XVI for the first-ever papal video call to space.

Mission managers, who have downplayed the inspection as no cause for concern, instructed astron...

Space Shuttle

2011-01-07T07:01:07Z

This image provided by NASA TV shows the space shuttle Discovery on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center Friday morning Dec. 17, 2010 as a tanking test begins. Teams will fill the spacecraft’s external fuel tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen just as they do during a launch attempt to verify r...

Spaceships for Hire

2010-11-25T08:00:36Z

FILE - This May 23, 2010 file photo provided by NASA shows the International Space Station photographed by an STS-132 crew member on space shuttle Atlantis after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation. NASA's effort to farm out astronaut trips to the International S...

Space Shuttle Discovery

2010-11-10T15:32:36Z

This Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 picture made available by NASA shows foam removed from an area of the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank where cracks developed, running vertically along the two rows of bolts. (AP Photo/NASA)

...

CORRECTION Space Shuttle

2010-11-10T15:32:36Z

This image made available by NASA on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 shows a a 20-inch crack in the insulating foam on the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Fla. On Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, workers removed sections of the damaged foam for...

Space Shuttle Robot

2010-11-05T07:33:36Z

This July 28, 2009 picture provided by NASA shows two Robonaut 2 robots in Houston. Robonaut 2 is hitching a one-way ride to the International Space Station on the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery. A potentially dangerous h...

News on Space Shuttles

Russia sends multinational crew to ISS

Microscopic worms may hold key to living on Mars

New crew arrives at ISS

Russian, U.S. crew safely dock with space station

Russian spacecraft docks with ISS

Russia sends astronauts back to space after mishaps

U.S. and Russian crew blast off safely for space station

Russian, U.S. crew blast off safely for space station

Russian, U.S. crew blast off for space station

Russia to return full crew to space station after crash

Russia set to resume manned spaceflight after failures

Kodak sells image sensor business to Platinum Equity

NASA's space shuttle operations chief heading to Virgin

Shot US lawmaker honors astronaut husband

Giffords awards medal to astronaut husband in Washington

Defunct NASA satellite to crash to Earth this week

Space food, shuttle tiles for sale by NASA

US astronaut shortage 'poses risks'

Baker Hughes recruits ex-NASA employees

SpaceX plans November test flight to space station

NASA confirms space shuttle debris found in Texas

US shuttle debris surfaces amid Texas drought

Texas drought exposes possible Space Shuttle Columbia piece

A hunger to explore

With space shuttle era over, U.S. robot set for Mars

With space shuttle era over, robot set for Mars

End of an era for US spaceflight as Atlantis lands

Russia declares 'era of Soyuz' after shuttle

Emotional shuttle crew say goodbye to "old friend"

Crew of Atlantis shuttle awakes to prepare for landing

Shuttle Atlantis counts down to final landing

Space shuttles will soon be museum pieces

Last U.S. space shuttle leaves station

NASA inks agreement with maker of Atlas V rocket

Space shuttle prepares to depart station for last time

US astronauts somber as shuttle era comes to an end

Obama dials for pizza, gets space station

NASA brings orbital dining down to Earth

U.S. astronauts gird for post-shuttle era

Atlantis crew unpacks, rocks out to "Rocket Man"

US shuttle era finishes with final spacewalk

Last spacewalk of US shuttle era ends

US astronauts set for last shuttle era spacewalk

NASA adds extra day to Atlantis mission

Astronauts to unload tons of supplies at space lab

NASA tracking space debris in space station's path

Atlantis heads to space station on final flight

Obama hails final shuttle flight, eyes Mars next

Atlantis blasts off on end-of-era spaceflight

Space shuttle leaves Earth on final flight

Final liftoff set to end U.S. space shuttle era

Tourists jam Florida for last shuttle launch

Shuttle's end a blow to Florida's "Space Coast"

Gloomy weather could delay Friday shuttle launch

NASA needs new 'breakthrough,' says Obama

Countdown starts for NASA's last shuttle launch

In Florida, end of space shuttle program hits hard

Shuttle Atlantis prepares to rocket into history

Witness: Practice key to risky, high-speed shuttle landing

NASA bids farewell to "amazing" relic, the shuttle

Shuttle Atlantis ready to fly July 8: NASA

NASA clears last space shuttle for July 8 blast-off

Astronauts practice for NASA's last shuttle launch

Mark Kelly retires from Navy to be with Giffords

NASA fuels shuttle for test before last launch

Soyuz docks at ISS carrying Russian, US, Japanese astronauts

Multinational crew arrives at space station

Soyuz heads to ISS carrying Russian, US, Japanese astronauts

NASA releases first photo of shuttle docked in space

Shuttle Endeavour lands after its last mission

Shuttle Endeavour prepares for final glide home

NASA rolls out shuttle Atlantis for final time

US astronaut fears 'memory' gap after shuttle ends

Shuttle Endeavour leaves International Space Station

Shuttle Endeavour prepares to leave space station

Endeavour spacewalk marks 1,000 hours on station work

US astronaut grapples with 'tears in space'

Space crew lands safely on Kazakh steppe

Endeavour astronauts wrap up second space walk