Welcome to SPACE.com's complete archive of stories related to NASA's efforts to return to flight following the STS-107 Shuttle Columbia Disaster.

The stories archived here cover the period from the release of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report on Aug. 26, 2003 to the present. The stories are presented in reverse chronological order with the most recent updates at the top. This page was last updated Aug. 30, 2005.

Look here for an archive of stories covering the period from the loss of Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003 to the release of the CAIB report on Aug. 26, 2003. Our STS-107 mission coverage from pre-launch to the day before the scheduled landing is here. Follow this link to get back to the main Shuttle Return to Flight Report page.

Return to Flight Stories Since Aug. 26, 2003 In Reverse Chronological Order

STS-114 Astronauts Share Spaceflight Experience with Students
NEW YORK - Three NASA astronauts who flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery during the recent STS-114 mission met with hundreds of students Tuesday to discuss their spaceflight and hopefully inspire the next generation of explorers.

Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to NASA Spaceport
The space shuttle Discovery returned to its home spaceport Sunday, landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) after a weekend flight across the country.

Space Shuttle Discovery Heads Back to Florida Spaceport
Perched atop a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, the space shuttle Discovery began its homeward trek toward NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, a two-day trip from California.

NASA Eyes March 2006 for Next Shuttle Flight
NASA's next space shuttle will likely launch in March 2006 and not be the Atlantis orbiter as previously planned, space agency officials said Thursday.

Weather, Technical Glitch Delay Discovery's Return to Florida Spaceport
CAPE CANAVERAL - Shuttle Discovery's flight home is delayed again, now set for takeoff from California on Friday at earliest.

Independent Task Group Stands Down, Members Criticize NASA's Return to Flight Work
The independent task group responsible for watching over NASA's efforts to launch the STS-114 mission aboard Discovery, the first space shuttle to fly since the Columbia disaster, is standing down, with some of its members criticizing the space agency's return to flight work.

STS-114 Commander Brings Letterman Up to Speed
Astronaut Eileen Collins explained to an agog David Letterman Tuesday night that the space shuttle goes from zero to 17,500 miles per hour in less than nine minutes.

After Successful Flight, a Warm Texas Greeting for STS-114 Crew
HOUSTON - More than 1,000 space fans, dignitaries and NASA engineers, workers and officials greeted the seven astronauts of Discovery STS-114 mission - the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster - during a welcome back ceremony here at an Ellington Field hangar.

STS-114 Astronauts Celebrate Successful Mission, Remember Columbia's Crew
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--Hours after touching down on Earth following a two-week stint in space, the crew of the space shuttle Discovery are still reintroducing themselves to their home planet after completing NASA's first orbiter mission since the Columbia disaster.

NASA: Discovery's Flight a Success, More Work to Be Done
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With the space shuttle Discovery back on Earth and its astronaut crew safe and sound, NASA is commending the successful spaceflight--the space agency's first since the Columbia accident--while admitting that more work remains to be done.

Touchdown! Discovery Lands Safely in California
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - After one thwarted landing attempt and two missed passes here Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery returned to Earth Tuesday as their spacecraft touched down on the desert runway of Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Discovery Landing Pushed Back 24 Hours
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--Despite two opportunities for a morning landing, the space shuttle Discovery is still in orbit after cloud cover prevented the orbiter from returning to Earth Monday.

Discovery Set for Monday Landing, NASA Flight Director Says
HOUSTON - More than two years after watching over the ill-fated reentry of the space shuttle Columbia, a NASA flight director is once again ready to guide an orbiter toward landing - this time armed with a wealth of orbital inspections and photographs that have proven the spacecraft's integrity.

Discovery's STS-114 Astronauts Ready to Return to Earth
HOUSTON - With one day left in their orbital trip, the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are ready to come home.

As Discovery Heads Home, NASA Prepares for Landing
HOUSTON - Flight controllers are watching the weather for Discovery's return to Earth Monday and are planning alternate landing sites should rain storms in Florida prevent the early-morning touchdown, mission managers said Saturday.

Discovery Undocks from Space Station, Heads Back to Earth
HOUSTON - After eight days docked at the International Space Station (ISS), the shuttle Discovery cast off from the orbital laboratory Saturday and began the trip back to Earth.

September Launch Window Shrinks for Atlantis
HOUSTON--NASA's next space shuttle flight will not launch before Sept. 22 as engineers struggle to understand and fix foam debris issues with the launch system's external tank, agency officials said Friday.

Congressional NASA Supporters Say Hello to Discovery
If you were listening to shuttle radio communications Friday morning around 11 a.m. you didn't hear the usual tech-filled jargon between the space shuttle Discovery crew and Johnson Space Center in Texas. It's not surprising as the people on the line weren't the usual technicians or mission managers but visitors from Washington, D.C.

Congressional NASA Supporters Say Hello to Discovery
If you were listening to shuttle radio communications Friday morning around 11 a.m. you didn't hear the usual tech-filled jargon between the space shuttle Discovery crew and Johnson Space Center in Texas. It's not surprising as the people on the line weren't the usual technicians or mission managers but visitors from Washington, D.C.

Shuttle Discovery Prepares to Come Home
HOUSTON--Following a hectic week docked at the International Space Station (ISS) where a few historic "firsts" were performed in space, the shuttle Discovery is being prepared to come home.

Discovery Completes Cargo Transfer at ISS
HOUSTON - After delivering tons of new equipment and, supplies and fresh food to the International Space Station (ISS), the crew of the space shuttle Discovery packed up their cargo pod and returned it to the shuttle's payload bay for the trip back to Earth.

With Blanket Issue Cleared, NASA Approves Discovery for Return to Earth
HOUSTON--The space shuttle Discovery was given a clean bill of health to return home Monday after mission managers declared a fourth spacewalk would not be needed to repair a damaged thermal blanket on the orbiter's hull.

Discovery, Space Station Crews Pay Tribute to Columbia
HOUSTON--In a brief service, the nine astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station (ISS) remembered the NASA's lost Columbia crew and all other astronauts and cosmonauts who have given their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight.

Discovery Crew to Honor Lost Columbia Astronauts
HOUSTON - The crew of the space shuttle Discovery will commemorate their lost Columbia astronaut comrades today, but fear communications problems may cut their service short, the shuttle's commander told reporters today.

Discovery's Damaged Blanket Prompts Wind Tunnel Tests
HOUSTON - NASA engineers are working through the night to replicate the type of thermal blanket damage afflicting Discovery, sending three different samples through wind tunnel tests to determine if the fabric could rip off during reentry and strike the vehicle, mission managers said late Wednesday.

NASA Lauds Spacewalk Repair for Shuttle Discovery
HOUSTON - Flight controllers for the space shuttle Discovery are lauding today's morning spacewalk and its successful repair of the orbiter's heat shield.

Discovery's Heat Shield Successfully Repaired in Third Spacewalk
HOUSTON - For the first time in the history of NASA's shuttle program, an astronaut has repaired the spacecraft's heat shield in space during a spacewalk staged from the Discovery orbiter Wednesday morning.

NASA Eyes Damaged Thermal Blanket on Discovery's Hull
HOUSTON - Despite clearing another hurdle in efforts to prove the integrity of the shuttle Discovery's heat shield, mission managers are still studying a puffed-up thermal blanket to ensure it won't rip off during reentry and hit the spacecraft.

Discovery's Solo Repair Job a Team Effort, NASA Says
HOUSTON -- While STS-114 spacewalker Stephen Robinson will be working alone during a one-man repair job underneath the shuttle Discovery Wednesday, he will not be out of sight or the minds of his fellow crewmates and flight controllers, the astronauts and shuttle officials said today.

President Bush Chats with Discovery, ISS Astronauts
HOUSTON--The nine astronauts living aboard the shuttle Discovery and International Space Station received a long distance call from the U.S. President Tuesday congratulating them on their courage and successful mission so far.

NASA Sets Spacewalk to Repair Discovery's Heat Shield
HOUSTON - The crew of the space shuttle Discovery will perform an unprecedented on-orbit repair Wednesday, sending an astronaut under the orbiter's belly to remove a two strips of material jutting out from its tile-covered heat shield, mission managers said Monday.

Discovery Astronauts Confident in Planned Spacewalk Repair to Heat Shield
HOUSTON - The Discovery astronaut tapped to pluck out two strips of filler material jutting from the orbiter's heat shield said Tuesday that the first-time repair appears simple, but that great care must be taken to avoid damaging the shuttle.

NASA Details Plans for Potential Fix to Discovery's Heat Shield
HOUSTON - As shuttle managers debate whether an untried repair is needed to pry two space-filling strips from the underside of the Discovery orbiter, spacewalk planners have chosen which astronaut would perform the potential task, the mission's lead spacewalk officer said.

Shuttle Astronauts Repair ISS Gyroscope in Second Spacewalk
HOUSTON - For the first time in three years, the U.S.-built attitude control system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is complete after a successful repair job by two spacewalking astronauts Monday.

NASA Studies Potential Fix for Discovery's Heat Shield
HOUSTON - NASA engineers are drawing up plans to remove two strips of filler material jutting out from the heat-resistant tiles the space shuttle Discovery belly should mission managers decide the action is needed to safeguard the orbiter's heat shield, shuttle officials said Sunday.

Shuttle Crew Moves Cargo, Anticipates Extra Flight Day
HOUSTON - The astronauts aboard the Discovery orbiter and International Space Station (ISS) are hard at work shifting supplies between the two spacecraft and looking forward to an extra day in space together.

NASA Extends Discovery's Flight to ISS
HOUSTON - NASA officially extended the flight of its first space shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster, giving astronauts an extra day at the International Space Station (ISS) to move spare equipment and water into the orbital facility.

Discovery Astronauts Test Heat Shield Repairs in First Spacewalk
HOUSTON - Two astronauts are safely back inside the Discovery orbiter after a successful Saturday morning spacewalk where they tested new shuttle repair techniques and repaired faulty hardware on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS).

ISS Managers Ask for Extra Docked Day for Discovery's Crew
HOUSTON - NASA managers for the International Space Station (ISS) have formally asked for an extra day of docked operations with the STS-114 astronauts aboard Discovery, shuttle officials said Friday.

NASA Mulls Possible One-Day Extension to STS-114 Mission
HOUSTON - While NASA hopes to solve its external tank foam woes in time to launch another space shuttle in the near future, discussions are underway on how to get the most out of the Discovery's current presence at the International Space Station (ISS) should mission managers opt to extend its flight by one day.

NASA Chief Griffin Confident Shuttle Will Resume Flying Quickly
WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Mike Griffin expressed confidence July 29 that the U.S. space agency will be able to remedy "in short order" the foam debris problem that marred what he described as the space shuttle's otherwise nearly perfect return to flight July 26.

Discovery's Crew Gives Spacecraft Closer Inspection
HOUSTON - The astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are again scanning their orbiter's heat shield to get a second look at slightly damaged areas seen in a previous sweep.

Discovery Astronauts Deliver Fresh Cargo Pod at ISS
HOUSTON - The International Space Station (ISS) received a special delivery Friday after astronauts successfully installed a fresh cargo module ferried into orbit by the space shuttle Discovery.

NASA Spies Smaller Foam Debris From Discovery's Tank
HOUSTON - One of several small pieces of foam that popped free from Discovery's external tank during launch may have struck the orbiter, but likely caused no significant damage, shuttle managers said Thursday.

NASA Says Discovery Heat Shield Looks Good
HOUSTON - As the day winds down for the astronaut crew of the space shuttle Discovery, the night promises to be busy for flight controllers and engineers back on Earth. So far, mission managers said, the orbiter looks fit to fly back to Earth.

NASA Pessimistic About Solving Debris Woes
SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) -- NASA may never be able to prevent threatening chunks of insulation foam from breaking off the shuttle's fuel tank during launch, the agency's chief said Thursday, a day after future flights were ordered grounded because of the problem during Discovery's liftoff.

Discovery Docks at Space Station, Nine Astronauts Aboard ISS
HOUSTON - After almost three years, a NASA space shuttle is docked at the International Space Station (ISS). The Discovery orbiter, NASA's first shuttle to fly since the 2003 Columbia tragedy, successfully docked at the ISS Thursday at 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT) after a flawless rendezvous.

Multiple Pieces of Foam Fly in Shuttle Launch, Forcing Fleet Grounding
HOUSTON -- NASA officials have grounded the agency's remaining space shuttles after the Discovery orbiter's external tank shed chunks of foam, including one piece more than 2 feet long.

Discovery Astronauts Scan Orbiter for Damage
HOUSTON - As the crew of the space shuttle Discovery prepares to bed down for the day, NASA is lauding a nearly glitch-free test of a new orbital boom that gave flight controllers an unprecedented view of the spacecraft.

Discovery Crew Begins Shuttle Inspection
SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) -- Discovery's astronauts began their first full day of work in space Wednesday with a carefully orchestrated inspection of the shuttle's wings and nose to detect any damage that may have occurred during the launch.

NASA Declares Discovery a 'Clean' Launch
Shortly after the Discovery crew said "goodnight", NASA officials announced that today's launch was "clean" compared to past launches. "I feel very good about where we are in this mission so far," said John Shannon, manager of space shuttle operations.

NASA Returns to Flight as Discovery Reaches Orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Discovery roared into space Tuesday, piercing a Florida morning sky today and launching seven astronauts on NASA's first orbiter mission since the Columbia disaster.

Japanese Applaud Discovery's Launch
CHIGASAKI, Japan (AP) -- Drums pounded and hundreds of hometown well-wishers roared with joy Tuesday as Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi blasted off aboard the space shuttle Discovery.

NASA Again Poised to Launch Space Shuttle Discovery
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - For the second time in two weeks, NASA is just hours away from launching the space shuttle Discovery, the agency's first space shuttle to fly since the Columbia catastrophe.

Shuttle Discovery May Launch Even if Sensor Glitch Recurs
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's space shuttle Discovery is once again ready for launch even if a still unexplained fuel sensor glitch that scrubbed an attempted July 13 space shot occurs again, mission managers said Sunday.

NASA Restarts Launch Clock for Space Shuttle Discovery
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The countdown is on once again for the launch of the space shuttle Discovery, NASA's first shuttle flight since the Columbia tragedy.

Discovery's Astronaut Crew Returns to NASA Spaceport
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - For the second time in two weeks, the seven-astronaut crew of the space shuttle Discovery flew into NASA's Florida spaceport Friday as they prepare for a July 26 launch.

Shuttle Atlantis Takes a Short Trip
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Despite two delay-filled days, the shuttle Atlantis is safely inside NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after a brief hop forward in its long road toward space.

NASA: Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch July 26
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA will restart the countdown for the space shuttle Discovery Saturday, with plans to launch the orbiter spaceward on July 26 after more than week of work to pin down a fuel sensor glitch, mission managers said late Wednesday.

NASA: No Launch for Shuttle Discovery Before July 26
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA is working feverishly to launch the shuttle Discovery before the end of the month, even as engineers struggle to identify and fix a fuel sensor anomaly that scrubbed the orbiter's attempted space shot last week, mission managers said Monday.

Discovery's Commander Confident Space Shuttle Will Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With an exact launch date for their STS-114 mission still up in the air, seven space shuttle astronauts are hanging tight here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the spaceflight's commander said in a statement released Saturday.

Shuttle Discovery's Launch Enters Extended Delay
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery is suffering an extended delay, with engineers still puzzled over a fuel sensor glitch that scrubbed an attempted space shot two days ago.

NASA to Hunt for Sensor Glitch in Discovery's Fuel Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA engineers are attempting to root out the cause of a sensor glitch that scrubbed Wednesday's launch of the space shuttle Discovery.

Discovery's Launch Date Shifts as Engineers Investigate Sensor Glitch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's plans to launch the space shuttle Discovery are stretching further into July as engineers struggle to understand a fuel sensor anomaly that scrubbed an attempted space shot Wednesday.

NASA Chief: Discovery May Not Launch Until Next Week
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA Chief Administrator Mike Griffin said Discovery's launch, scrubbed Wednesday due to a technical glitch with a fuel tank sensor, could be pushed back to Monday, July 18.

Sensor Glitch Scrubs Discovery Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA flight controllers scrubbed the planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery today due to a glitch with the orbiter's external tank.

Sensor Glitch Scrubs Discovery Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA flight controllers scrubbed the planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery today due to a glitch with the orbiter's external tank.

Space Tools: Off the Shelf, Onto the Shuttle
Nothing is easy in space. Imagine trying to use a caulking gun while wearing hockey gloves and bobbing in zero gravity. Now factor in extreme temperatures ranging from 150 degrees below zero to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. That's just what astronauts have to do when they need to make repairs to the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, or possibly, the wings of a space shuttle.

Discovery's On-Board Souvenir Stash
Seven hundred STS-114 crew patches. Over 2000 state, country and agency flags. Hundreds of decals, medallions, banners, and lapel pins. These are just some of the more than 6,000 items that are on-board Space Shuttle Discovery for its 12-day Return To Flight mission to the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Discovery Repaired at Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Engineers conducted minor repairs to NASA's space shuttle Discovery late Tuesday after an errant window cover fell from the orbiter and damaged its aft section. The incident will not delay tomorrow's planned launched of the orbiter.

NASA Chief: Discovery Shuttle Set to Fly
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's space shuttle Discovery is ready for its July 13 launch and all outstanding issues have been settled, the agency's chief said Tuesday.

Launch Anticipation: Mixed Feelings About Discovery's Flight
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.- As NASA stands poised to launch its first shuttle mission in more than two years, a mixture of both excitement and apprehension fill the hearts of some of those watching over the upcoming space shot.

The Discovery Mission: NASA's Countdown to Credibility
The impeding liftoff of Discovery is not just a return to flight of the American human spaceflight program. For NASA a victorious shuttle mission will be received by the public as a signal that the agency, shattered by the calamitous Columbia accident, is fixed.

Florida Today: Coming Together
The manager for Discovery was taking a break from intense preparations to get the shuttle flying again. It was the division softball challenge for Kennedy Space Center, and the people who put together the shuttle were putting bat to ball and glove to hand.

Shuttle Discovery on Track for Wednesday Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With less than two days remaining its countdown, NASA's space shuttle Discovery is still on track for a July 13 launch, shuttle officials said Monday.

Launch Countdown Begins for Space Shuttle Discovery
CAPE CANAVERAL - The countdown is on for the space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts who, if all goes well, will be NASA's first shuttle astronauts to reach space in since January 2003.

Shuttle Discovery in Good Shape for July 13 Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA's preparations for its first space shuttle flight in more than two years are going well, with only three days remaining until the planned July 13 launch.

Discovery's STS-114 Crew Arrives at Launch Site
CAPE CANAVERAL - The next astronaut crew of the space shuttle Discovery arrived at their launch site today, flying in under a cloudy sky but looking forward to a July 13 space shot that NASA hopes will be the first orbiter launch since the Columbia disaster.

Florida Today: 2004 Hurricanes Caused Frustration
CAPE CANAVERAL - Stephanie Stilson felt her team's energy jump as workers saw Discovery starting to come together. Then came the hurricanes. Three times in two months, workers had to stop getting ready for return to flight and start preparing for the worst.

Space Station Astronauts Eagerly Await STS-114 Crew's Arrival
The two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are eagerly anticipating the arrival of NASA's space shuttle Discovery and their first human visitors in more than two months.

Shuttle Discovery Stays at Launch Pad
The space shuttle Discovery will stay on its launch pad and will not be threatened by Hurricane Dennis, which is bearing down on the Gulf Coast, NASA officials said Friday.

NASA Shuttle Managers Track Hurricane Dennis
Mission managers for the space shuttle Discovery are meeting tonight to decide whether they should begin readying the orbiter in the event high winds force it to roll back to the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), a NASA report said today.

Shuttle Snapshots: Orbital Photography Safeguards Astronauts
When the space shuttle Discovery arrives at the International Space Station (ISS) this month, two astronauts will have the photo opportunity of a lifetime.

NASA's Procedures, Culture Under Fire: Striving for Accountability
Among Wayne Hale's orders as deputy manager of the shuttle program: Change NASA's culture; revitalize its safety system; encourage people to overcome fears and speak up to top managers; wipe away years of ingrained apathy when requirements loosened and managers often let cost and schedule pressure guide decisions.

Shuttle Shuffle: Discovery Gets the Call
COCOA - Stephanie Stilson's cell phone rang as she listened to her college class on another phone. It was February 2004. She -- and everyone else -- looked forward to seeing Atlantis return the fleet to space. Stilson was about to find out otherwise.

Fixing the Foam: Preventing Disaster, Getting Clear Picture
NEW ORLEANS - The stuff that changed everything at NASA feels like the foam in life jackets on a fishing boat. It's super light, mostly air. Hold it in your hand and it defies common logic. How could a chunk of this foam bring down a mighty space shuttle?

As Discovery's Flight Nears, Four NASA Men Deal with Columbia's Loss
SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) -- Each man had an intimate tie to the Columbia disaster. Two were in Mission Control trying to save the shuttle and its crew, and two were 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) away at the Florida landing strip waiting for a spacecraft that would never come.

Picking Up the Pieces: Solving the Columbia Mystery
The rain never seemed to stop. The cold, the wet, the tired, hundreds of searchers huddled in bleachers of a rodeo arena in Nacogdoches, the small Texas town where many of the remnants of the destroyed shuttle Columbia had fallen to Earth.

The Worst Day: 02.01.03
Columbia was 16 minutes from home, where astronauts and loved ones would reunite, when Wayne Hale realized there would be no reunion.

NASA Revisits Space Shuttle Close Calls
CAPE CANAVERAL - A rocket fuel fire during atmospheric re-entry that ended in explosions on the Edwards Air Force Base runway in 1983.

Shuttle Launch Set for July 13
NASA's first space shuttle to fly since the Columbia disaster will launch as planned on July 13, shuttle officials said Thursday.

Columbia Investigator Fine With NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) --The chief investigator of the Columbia disaster said Wednesday he's fine with NASA resuming shuttle launches in just two weeks, even though the space agency falls short of making three safety improvements he called for in 2003.

New Laser Scanners to Detect Shuttle Tile Damage
NASA has developed a new three-dimensional laser scanner to seek out cracks and other damage amidst the thousands of ceramic tiles that protect space shuttles from the heat of reentry.

NASA Abandons New Shuttle Wiring Inspection Techniques
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is abandoning development of state-of-the-art tools to inspect aging shuttle wiring, which is susceptible to electrical shorts that could trigger catastrophe.

Risk to Shuttle from Launch Debris Low, NASA Says
NASA's Discovery orbiter will fly next month, with concerns it could suffer damage from launch debris akin to that which doomed the Columbia mission all but settled, shuttle officials said Friday.

Busy Months Ahead for NASA's STS-121 Astronauts
While NASA's Discovery astronauts prepare for the agency's first shuttle flight in more than two years, another orbiter crew is also training hard for its own launch - now less than three months away.

NASA Shuttle Team Confident in Discovery's July Launch Target
CAPE CANAVERAL - The team at Kennedy Space Center is confident Discovery and Atlantis will be ready in time to launch the return-to-flight mission in July as planned, NASA officials told community leaders at a breakfast Friday.

With Shuttle and Cargo at Pad, NASA Steps Closer Toward Launch
With the space shuttle Discovery and its cargo at the launch pad, the pieces are all but set for NASA's STS-114 mission, the agency's first orbiter flight in more than two years.

Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Launch Pad
The space shuttle Discovery is once again atop its Florida launch pad, after receiving a fresh external tank in preparations for NASA's first orbiter flight since the Columbia disaster.

Safe Harbors: NASA Prepares Alternative Landing Sites for STS-114
While the upcoming launch of the space shuttle Discovery will mark the return to flight of NASA's space shuttle fleet, that is only the beginning, and great care is being taken to assure a successful mission throughout, particularly the landing, wherever it might take place.

UPDATE: Shuttle Oversight Group to Say All But 3 Return to Flight Requirements Met
WASHINGTON --The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group announced Wednesday that it has closed out all but three of the 15 recommendations NASA must complete before it can launch the Space Shuttle Discovery in July.

Shuttle Engineers Begin Attaching Discovery's New Fuel Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL - Kennedy Space Center workers are giving shuttle Discovery a new fuel tank, and the spaceship should be back at the launch pad within a week.

Shuttle Engineers to Fit Discovery to New External Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Kennedy Space Center workers are preparing this morning to outfit shuttle Discovery with a new fuel tank.

Shuttle Discovery's External Tank Swap Going Well
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Shuttle Discovery is dangling from a crane inside the Vehicle Assembly Building this afternoon after workers carefully removed the orbiter from its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters this morning.

Discovery Shuttle May Roll Back to Pad Early, NASA Says
CAPE CANAVERAL - Shuttle Discovery is to be separated from its fuel tank and rocket boosters this morning, after its rollback last week to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center.

Wide Load: Hauling Discovery One Crawl at a Time
As one team of shuttle engineers works to pry NASA's Discovery orbiter from its external tank, another is patiently waiting to fulfill its role as spaceship movers.

GAO Faults NASA on Shuttle Alternative Effort
WASHINGTON - Government auditors faulted NASA on Tuesday for failing to adequately investigate cheaper, safer alternatives to the space shuttle for delivering parts and supplies to the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Discovery Back Inside Hangar
CAPE CANAVERAL - Discovery is moving in the wrong direction but for the right reasons, workers said as the shuttle began rolling back to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center this morning.

Shuttle Discovery Begins Slow Crawl Off Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL - Shuttle Discovery is headed back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where a new set of booster rockets and external fuel tank are waiting.

Discovery's Launch Delays Disappoint Shuttle and ISS Astronauts
Instead of flying high above Earth this week, NASA's shuttle Discovery is crawling down from its launch pad to switch external tanks, a move that has delayed its flight and caused dismay among astronauts on Earth and in space.

Discovery Shuttle Prepares to Leave Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL - About two months since workers hailed Discovery's roll to the launch pad, they are about to move the shuttle back to Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building.

Discovery Set for July Launch Despite Delays, NASA Says
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA faces a number of hurdles in its bid to return the shuttle fleet to service, but managers are confident Discovery will fly in July.

September Shuttle Launch May Delay Next ISS Crew
CAPE CANAVERAL - The planned Sept. 27 launch of the next International Space Station crew might be pushed back to create an opportunity for a shuttle mission in September.

Landing Gear Inspections Delay Shuttle Discovery's Rollback
CAPE CANAVERAL - -- Shuttle Discovery will stay at the launch pad a few extra days so inspectors can check its landing gear for cracks.

Discovery's Second External Tank Test a Success, NASA Says
NASA once again fueled the space shuttle Discovery's external tank for Friday in a test to iron out sensor and valve glitches.

NASA Chief to KSC: Shuttles' End is Coming
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - New NASA administrator Mike Griffin, visiting Kennedy Space Center today, made it clear the shuttle would be replaced, and soon.

NASA Fuels Discovery's External Tank in Test
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA fueled Discovery's external tank this morning in a bid to troubleshoot problems with critical engine sensors and valves.

NASA Begins Second Test of Discovery's External Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA is fueling Discovery's external tank this morning in a bid to troubleshoot problems with critical engine sensors and valves. said.

Space Station Crew to Ignite First Oxygen-Generating Candles
With their primary oxygen source broken and another running out, the two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will ignite their first oxygen-generating candles Friday to test a reserve air supply, a NASA spokesperson said. said.

NASA May Partially Abandon Space Station
WASHINGTON - NASA may have to partially abandon the International Space Station if the Bush administration can't figure a way around a law that prevents the United States from paying Russia for future flights to the orbiting outpost.

Shuttle Engineers Expect Smooth Tank Swap for Discovery
Space shuttle engineers have no worries over the planned swap out of the Discovery orbiter's external tank this month, a major step forward in NASA's first return to flight mission.

NASA Chief Seeks Ways to Preserve Shuttle Workforce
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA and United Space Alliance are working on ways to keep shuttle workers at Kennedy Space Center and elsewhere employed in the space program after the orbiters retire in 2010, top officials from the space agency and its private shuttle contractors told Congress on Wednesday.

Florida Hopes to Host CEV Construction
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA's next spaceship almost certainly will launch from Florida's Space Coast.

NASA Names Next Space Station Crew
NASA plans to return the International Space Station crew to its original size of three on the second post-Columbia shuttle mission.

ISS Oxygen Generator Fails for Good, Station Managers Say
CAPE CANAVERAL - A balky Russian oxygen generator broke down on the International Space Station, but its two-man crew has a reserve air supply that would last about five months, NASA officials said Friday.

Former NASA Inspector Acquitted in Shuttle Case
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A former NASA employee was acquitted Friday of charges he failed to properly inspect the labor of contractors working on the space shuttle Discovery.

NASA Chief Pushes for Shuttle's Replacement
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA's new boss made an impassioned case Thursday for speeding up development of a new spacecraft so that the United States will not lose access to space when the shuttle is retired, but warned something else will have to be sacrificed.

Shuttle's Retirement May Affect ISS Construction, NASA Chief Says
NASA's looming deadline to retire its space shuttle fleet by 2010 may complicate plans to complete the International Space Station, according to the agency's top official.

Prometheus, ISS Research Cuts Help Pay for Shuttle and Hubble Repair Bills
WASHINGTON -- NASA sent Congress a revised spending plan for 2005 that would significantly cut the Project Prometheus nuclear power and propulsion program, cancel a host of international space station-based biological and physical research activities, and postpone some space science missions, including two advanced space telescopes and a Mars science lander slated to launch in 2009.

International Space Station Gets a Boost
A cargo ship docked at the International Space Station (ISS) fired its engine Wednesday, raising the space research platform into a higher orbit to prepare for the arrival of two spacecraft in upcoming months.

Trial Begins for Former NASA Inspector
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Several Kennedy Space Center technicians testified Monday that a former NASA safety inspector accused of falsifying exams of parts on the space shuttle Discovery failed to check their work.

NASA Prepares for Second External Fuel Tank Test
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA decided Friday to conduct a second fueling test on Discovery at the launch pad before returning the space shuttle to the hangar and replacing its tank with a safer, updated model.

Discovery to Switch to New Fuel Tank for July Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL - Shuttle Discovery will fly to space on a different external fuel tank than planned.

Morale High Despite Shuttle Flight Delay
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida -- Despite the recent decision to delay the shuttle's return to flight by another two months, morale here remains strong with workers determined to get shuttle crews back into Earth orbit soon, but as safely as possible.

Space Multitasking: A Look at Two STS-114 Mission Specialists
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - Two NASA astronauts are preparing for a multitasking mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery when the orbiter rockets into space later this year.

STS-114 Crew Rehearses Shuttle Launch, Escape Plans
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - The seven astronauts slated to liftoff aboard NASA's first space shuttle to fly in more than two years aborted the mock launch of their Discovery orbiter Wednesday, evacuating the vehicle during a dress rehearsal of the final hours before liftoff.

Mock Countdown Begins for STS-114 Crew
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - The mock countdown has begun for NASA's first astronaut crew to ride a space shuttle into orbit since the Columbia disaster.

Griffin: Changing NASA Culture Boils Down to 'Common Courtesy'
WASHINGTON -- Taking up the delicate topic of NASA's much maligned management culture, NASA's new boss says much of what needs to be done to ensure openness and sound decision-making boils to down to "common courtesy."

STS-114 Commander Says Launch Delay Was the Right Call
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The astronauts who will fly on the first post-Columbia shuttle mission landed at Kennedy Space Center late Sunday night for this week's practice countdown, and their commander said NASA managers made the right call by postponing the launch to mid-July.

NASA Chief: Discovery Launch Delayed Until Mid-July
NASA's first space shuttle to fly since the Columbia disaster will not liftoff until July, a drastic delay that will force mission managers to miss the first of two launch windows this summer.

Debris Concerns Delay Discovery Launch Until July
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA's first shuttle mission since the Columbia accident will be delayed until July because of fears that ice could shake free from Discovery's external fuel tank, triggering another deadly disaster.

NASA Discusses Chances of May Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Top NASA officials called a meeting Thursday to discuss the latest launch-debris analyses and the chances of holding to a May liftoff for the first space shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster.

NASA Prepares for Possible Shuttle Mission to Save Hubble
NASA's new Administrator Mike Griffin told reporters today that he informed key members of Congress Thursday evening that he would direct engineers at Goddard Spaceflight center to start preparing for a space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on the assumption that one ultimately will go forward.

European to Make Long-Duration Station Visit
NASA's next space shuttle mission, the first to fly since the Columbia accident, has been a long time coming for three astronauts set to conduct the flight's spacewalks.

EVA Debut: The Spacewalking Team of STS-114
NASA's next space shuttle mission, the first to fly since the Columbia accident, has been a long time coming for three astronauts set to conduct the flight's spacewalks.

Fresh Astronaut Crew Takes Charge of ISS
A fresh astronaut crew has taken control of the International Space Station (ISS), beginning a mission that NASA hopes will see the arrival of the first space shuttles to fly in more than two years.

For Expedition 10 Crew, Soyuz Landing Was 'Quite a Ride'
Three astronauts landed safely back on Earth Sunday after successfully completing their respective missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA Disputes Claims of Lowered Risk Standards for Shuttle
NASA space shuttle officials disputed claims Friday that the space agency had relaxed acceptable risk standards while building toward its first orbiter launch since the Columbia disaster.

NASA Documents Suggest Space Agency is Downplaying Shuttle Risk
NEW YORK (AP) -- Internal NASA documents obtained by a newspaper suggest that the agency is playing down the dangers posed by shuttle debris so it can continue to send astronauts into space.

Flying in the Front Seats: A Look at STS-114's Commander and Pilot
There is no shortage of experience at the helm of NASA's next space shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Eileen Collins commanding the STS-114 mission with James Kelly serving as pilot.

NASA Delays First Post-Columbia Launch
NASA has pushed back the date for its first space shuttle launch since the Columbia tragedy, delaying the flight one week to allow more time to complete much-needed paperwork and analyses, the space agency said Wednesday.

Delays Predicted for NASA's Next Shuttle Launch
The launch of the space shuttle Discovery, NASA's first orbiter to fly since the Columbia accident, may be delayed a week to allow more time for the space agency to prepare its paperwork, unconfirmed sources said Tuesday.

NASA to Accelerate Plans for Shuttle's Replacement
NASA will accelerate development efforts for a new manned spacecraft that will follow the retirement of the agency's shuttle fleet, a top spaceflight official told U.S. Senate subcommittee today.

Many Scientists Encouraged By Griffin's Appointment
Mike Griffin's appointment as NASA administrator is encouraging to many astronomers and scientists, some of whom are concerned that basic research will be sacrificed in the new Bush vision for manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Astronomers in particular are eager for a reversal of the decision by former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, Griffin's predecessor, to cancel a planned space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

Reaching for the Moon, Mars the Nuclear Way
The head of NASA's nuclear push says a scientific mission to the inner solar system -- perhaps to the moon, Mars or an asteroid -- will be used to demonstrate a new propulsion system in place of a mission to Jupiter's icy moons.

NASA's New Chief to Scrutinize Shuttle Launch Decision
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- NASA's new administrator, Michael Griffin, promised Monday to leave "absolutely no stone unturned" in deciding whether it's safe to launch Discovery next month - the first space shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster.

Six-Month Mission Begins for Fresh ISS Crew
The crew of the eleventh mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is taking stock of what is now their orbital home for the next six months.

Shuttle Thrusters a Potential Risk to Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is resuming shuttle flights to the International Space Station despite a known problem that could trigger the loss of both spacecraft and their crews, a risk deemed unacceptable by an agency safety panel.

Space Station Crew Greets Replacements With Open Arms
Three new astronauts boarded the International Space Station (ISS) amid cheers, hugs, bread and salt from the outpost's two-man crew early Sunday after the successful docking of a Russian-built spacecraft.

Expedition 11 Crew Successfully Launches Toward Space Station
Three astronauts bound for the International Space Station (ISS) are circling the Earth inside a Russian space capsule after successfully launching into orbit atop a Soyuz rocket.

Griffin to NASA Workforce: Call Me 'Mike'
WASHINGTON -- NASA's new administrator, Mike Griffin, told the U.S. space agency's workforce Thursday afternoon that carrying out President Bush's space exploration vision will require tough choices.

NASA Tests Redesigned External Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- NASA fueled a space shuttle for the first time in more than two years Thursday as part of a critical prelaunch test of Discovery's external tank, redesigned to remove excess foam following the Columbia disaster.

Senate Approves Griffin Nomination, New NASA Chief to Be Sworn In Promptly
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate confirmed Wednesday night the nomination of Mike Griffin to become NASA's new administrator.

Next Space Station Crew Ready for Launch
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A Russian and an American preparing to blast off for the International Space Station said Thursday that the highlight of their mission will be welcoming a U.S. space shuttle to the station after a two-year absence.

For STS-114 Crew, a Robotic Arm Ballet Awaits
NASA's next seven astronauts to fly have a bit of orbital juggling in store for them when their space shuttle Discovery reaches the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA to Test Discovery's External Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA plans to fill shuttle Discovery's redesigned external tank at Kennedy Space Center today in a test crucial to the agency's plans to launch its first post-Columbia shuttle mission next month.

Space Exploration Overhaul: Next Five Years 'Critical'
After decades of sending probes across the void of interplanetary space, officials are now reshaping how solar system exploration is accomplished. The renovation is due in large measure to the visionary Moon, Mars and beyond directive given to NASA by U.S. President George W. Bush just more than a year ago.

Discovery Astronauts Look Forward to Launch
HOUSTON - With the Discovery orbiter sitting atop its launch pad and a potential liftoff date five weeks away, seven astronauts are looking toward a mission they hope will mark NASA's return to shuttle flight.