NASA’s
STS-121 mission aboard the Discovery orbiter marked the second shuttle mission since
the 2003 Columbia accident. Commanded by astronaut veteran Steven Lindsey the 13-day mission launched on July 4, 2006 and completed the Return to Flight work begun
during NASA’s STS-114 crew last year.
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STS-121 Elapsed Mission Time
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The flight
also marked a return to three-astronaut operations aboard the International
Space Station by delivering European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter to
the orbital laboratory.
Below is SPACE.com’s
archive of stories chronicling the STS-121 mission in reverse chronological
order with the most recent updates first. This page was last updated on July 20, 2006.
A Perfect Landing
Discovery Crew Returns Home to Houston
The crew of space shuttle Discovery's recently ended STS-121 mission returned home to Texas on Tuesday, where they were welcomed back by several hundred of their co-workers, friends, family and members of the public.
Home Again: Six Astronauts Celebrate Shuttle Landing
The sky may be cloudy over NASA’s Florida spaceport, but six astronauts are all smiles after riding their space shuttle back to Earth Monday.
For NASA, a Long Road Ahead After Discovery’s Success
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The space shuttle Discovery is in near pristine condition after a flawless Monday landing under a cloud-covered Florida sky.
Landing Day: Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Earth
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It’s been three long years since the loss of Columbia, but NASA’s space shuttle fleet is back in action after six astronauts rode their 100-ton Discovery orbiter home safely Monday.
Space Shuttle Discovery to Land Today
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – All that stands between six astronauts in space and a warm Florida landing are about 200 miles (321 kilometers) and the hint of rain.
Return to Flight Redux
Discovery's Shuttle Astronauts Set for Monday Landing
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Six NASA astronauts circling the Earth aboard the space shuttle Discovery are ready for their Monday landing after a busy mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shuttle Discovery Cleared to Return to Earth Monday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Mission Control on Sunday gave the green light for Discovery to attempt landing Monday, concluding that inspections of the space shuttle's protective skin showed no signs of damage.
Casting Off: Shuttle Discovery Undocks from Space Station
HOUSTON – Six NASA astronauts began their homeward trek Saturday as their Discovery orbiter cast off from the International Space Station (ISS) following eight days of orbital work.
NASA Clears Discovery’s Left Wing for Landing, Rest of Shuttle to Follow
HOUSTON – Shuttle managers cleared the Discovery orbiter’s left wing for landing Saturday, with the rest of the orbiter expected to follow after a late-night analysis by engineers and flight controllers.
NASA Weighs Late Heat Shield Inspections for Shuttle Crews
HOUSTON – NASA managers are discussing whether a late heat shield inspection that has made an already busy flight even more so for six astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery is worth the extra time and risk, a lead flight director said Saturday.
NASA Confident Potential Leak Won’t Hinder Shuttle Landing
HOUSTON – NASA officials are confident that a potential fuel leak in a power unit aboard the space shuttle Discovery, if unchanged, will not hinder the spacecraft’s Monday landing, a top mission manager said Friday.
Shuttle Astronauts Prepare to Leave Space Station
HOUSTON – Six astronauts are spending their final day at the International Space Station (ISS) as NASA’s shuttle Discovery is primed for a Saturday undocking.
Shuttle Crew to Scan Discovery's Wing for Space Rock Damage
HOUSTON – Astronauts aboard NASA’s space shuttle Discovery will begin a final inspection of their spacecraft’s wings today in a first-ever hunt for any signs of impact from miniscule space rocks.
Shuttle Crew Takes Day Off While NASA Eyes Glitches
HOUSTON – After more than a week of busy spaceflight, the astronaut crew of NASA space shuttle Discovery is taking a well-deserved break from their orbital duties, while engineers on the ground study a couple of power unit glitches.
Shuttle Heat Shield Repair Test Goes Well, NASA Says
HOUSTON – NASA is more confident in its ability to make minor in-flight repairs to a shuttle’s heat shield after a successful test during a Wednesday spacewalk outside the Discovery orbiter, according to one mission manager.
Spacewalkers Test Shuttle Heat Shield Repair Technique
HOUSTON – Working with space caulk guns and a pair of scrapers, two NASA astronauts put a black, sticky goo through its paces during a Wednesday spacewalk to test basic shuttle heat shield repair techniques.
Shuttle Crew Takes Presidential Call, Moves Cargo
HOUSTON –Nine astronauts toiling to shift more than two tons of cargo between the Discovery shuttle and International Space Station more than 210 miles (337 kilometers) above Earth are ahead of schedule, and even had time for a telephone call with the U.S. President, NASA officials said.
NASA: Spacewalk Clears Path for ISS Construction
HOUSTON – There was a lot riding on today’s spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) and two shuttle astronauts did not disappoint, NASA officials said Monday.
Shuttle Spacewalkers Make Vital ISS Railcar Repair
HOUSTON – A spacewalking pair of astronauts has cleared the way for future construction of the International Space Station (ISS) after completing a critical repair to the orbital laboratory’s mobile crane.
Spacewalkers to Make Critical Space Station Repairs
HOUSTON – Two astronauts are set to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) Monday and make a critical repair to aid future construction of the orbital laboratory.
NASA Clears Shuttle Discovery for Return Trip
HOUSTON – The heat shield that protects the space shuttle Discovery from the searing temperatures of reentry has a clean bill of health, NASA mission managers said Sunday.
Shuttle Astronauts Haul Cargo to ISS, Enjoy Flight
HOUSTON – Nine astronauts are working through a moving day in orbit today as they haul cargo into the International Space Station (ISS) from the Discovery shuttle and its Leonardo module.
NASA Clears Some Orbiter Issues, Lauds Spacewalk
HOUSTON – The heat shield protecting the space shuttle Discovery is fit to return to Earth in an emergency, though analysts are still eyeing two areas for additional study, NASA mission managers said Saturday after the spaceflight’s first spacewalk.
Spacewalkers Test Shuttle Boom for Heat Shield Repairs
HOUSTON – Two shuttle astronauts went through the motions of an orbiter heat shield repair while perched at the end of an extra-long robotic arm during a Saturday spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA Eyes Discovery Heat Shield Imagery
HOUSTON – NASA shuttle officials are withholding a final judgment on whether the Discovery orbiter’s heat shield is safe for the return trip until after a team of analysts completes a meticulous survey of the up-close images taken during a Friday inspection.
Third Spacewalk Planned for Shuttle Crew
HOUSTON – NASA mission controllers are planning a third spacewalk and an extra day in space for six astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery, the orbiter’s lead flight director said Friday.
Shuttle Astronauts Take Second Look at Heat Shield
HOUSTON – The astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery will take a second look at the orbiter’s heat shield today, but are quite content with how pristine the spacecraft appears to date.
Orbital Delivery: Shuttle Crew Installs Fresh ISS Cargo Pod
HOUSTON – The International Space Station (ISS) received a new pantry chock full of fresh food, equipment and other vital supplies Friday after shuttle astronauts installed a fresh cargo pod at the orbital laboratory.
Discovery Shuttle's Heat Shield Looks Good, NASA Says
HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery’s heat shield, so vital to returning its STS-121 astronaut crew home to Earth, appears to be in fine shape based on early image analysis, mission managers said Thursday.
After Docking, Discovery Crew's Mission Going Well
HOUSTON – With nine astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA’s space shuttle Discovery has already met one of the major goals of its STS-121 spaceflight, a mission flight director said Thursday.
Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Orbital Station
HOUSTON – The International Space Station (ISS) is back at full strength once more after NASA’s Discovery shuttle astronauts delivered a third crewmember to the orbital laboratory Thursday.
Shuttle Astronauts to Dock at Space Station
HOUSTON – The seven astronauts aboard NASA’s space shuttle Discovery will begin their third day in orbit on their own today, but will end it with friends once they dock at the International Space Station (ISS).
Initial Scans Yield No Concerns for Shuttle Discovery
HOUSTON – An early look at launch and inspection data from NASA’s space shuttle Discovery has yielded no concerns over the health of the vehicle, a top shuttle official said Wednesday.
Astronauts Find No Damage to Discovery Shuttle
HOUSTON (AP) -- Early inspections have revealed no damage to the space shuttle Discovery, NASA said Wednesday after a day of checking out the spacecraft with on-board cameras. That means that when the shuttle meets up with the international space station Thursday morning it likely won't need emergency repairs while hooked up with the orbital outpost -- unlike last year's daring spacewalk fixes.
Bird Droppings Fly to Space
HOUSTON (AP)—NASA's rocket scientists have a new appreciation for the out-of-this-world power of bird droppings. The orbiting space shuttle Discovery sported some whitish splotches on its black right wing edge that NASA officials said appeared to be bird droppings.
Discovery Astronauts Begin Shuttle Inspection
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- The crew of Discovery began their first full day in space Wednesday preparing for one of the most comprehensive in-flight inspections of any shuttle flight.
Modified Fuel Tank Performed Well in Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Despite several instances of foam loss during flight, the modified orange external tank that fed the space shuttle Discovery’s July 4th climb into orbit today performed remarkably well, NASA shuttle chief said Tuesday.
Shuttle Launches with Seven Astronauts, 6,000 Mementos
Space shuttle Discovery launched the seven-person crew of STS-121 to orbit today, and with them, each took personal items to make their 12-days in space (or five months, as in the case of the soon-to-be space station resident on-board) a bit more like their life back on Earth.
NASA Celebrates Shuttle Launch, Eyes Tank Foam Loss
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA officials lauded the July 4th launch of the space shuttle Discovery Tuesday but added that much work remains ahead, not the least of which are evaluations of several pieces of foam debris that popped loose from the orbiter's fuel tank.
STS-121 Away: Independence Day Space Shot a Success
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA celebrated the Fourth of July with some rockets of its own Tuesday as the space shuttle Discovery launched its seven-astronaut crew into orbit.
Blog: NASA Vultures Celebrate Freedom Early
While NASA’s “bird” – the space shuttle Discovery – is hoping to free itself from the bonds of gravity today, a group of 50 vultures celebrated their freedom one early day at NASA’s KSC spaceport.
Counting Down to Liftoff
NASA 'Go' for July 4 Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA will forge ahead with plans to launch the space shuttle Discovery Tuesday despite losing a small piece of foam insulation from the orbiter's external tank.
Impact of Foam Crack On Shuttle Launch Still Uncertain
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA managers decided Monday to continue preparing for the planned July 4th launch of the space shuttle Discovery, even as engineers evaluate a piece of foam insulation that popped free from the spacecraft’s fuel tank.
Shuttle's Foam Crack Could Delay Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA inspectors have found a small crack in the foam insulation of the space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank, prompting mission managers to discuss whether to press ahead with Tuesday's third launch attempt or stand down for repairs.
Tough Turnaround Ahead for Space Shuttle Discovery
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Launch pad workers have their work cut out for them in order to ready the space shuttle Discovery for a July 4th liftoff after Sunday's delay.
Weather Delays Discovery Launch A Second Time
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Poor weather again thwarted the launch of NASA’s space shuttle Discovery Sunday following a day of delays due to thunderstorms and thick clouds.
Thunderstorms Scrub Discovery Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's space shuttle Discovery will have to wait at least one more day to reach orbit after thick clouds prevented a Saturday attempt.
Launch Day: Space Shuttle Discovery Set to Fly
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Almost one year after returning its aging shuttle fleet to flight, NASA is once more poised to launch seven astronauts into orbit.
Blog: Reassigned JSC Engineering Lead Releases Statement
A NASA astronaut who said he was fired from his position as head of engineer at the agency’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston cited management differences as the reason for his departure.
Weather Clouds Saturday's Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s space shuttle Discovery stands poised for its planned July 1 launch, though weather concerns cloud the upcoming space shot.
Space Shuttle: NASA’s Risky, High-Stakes Gamble
Even before Discovery roars skywardon its STS-121 mission, this next flight finds itself in a swirl of controversy—with NASA and its contractor team still dogged by technical issues of dealing with foam loss.
Blog: Vice President to Attend STS-121 Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The word here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Press Site is that Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne will be in attendance Saturday when the space shuttle Discovery launches its STS-121 astronaut crew spaceward.
Aboard Space Station, Astronauts Wait for STS-121 Crew
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – While seven astronauts prepare to ride NASA’s Discovery shuttle toward the International Space Station (ISS) this week, the orbital laboratory’s two-man crew is gearing up for the spacecraft’s arrival.
STS-121 Astronaut Crew Arrive at NASA Spaceport
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The seven astronauts set to ride NASA’s space shuttle Discovery into orbit later this week arrived at their launch site Tuesday eagerly awaiting a July 1 space shot.
Flies with the Right Stuff: Shuttle Experiment to Explore Astronaut Immunity
Thousands of fruit flies with the right stuff are slated to take flight aboard NASA's shuttle mission next month for an experiment to learn how space messes with the immune system.
NASA JSC's Head of Engineering Re-Assigned Days Before STS-121 Launch
Less than a year after his first spaceflight and just one week shy of his helping to lead another from the ground, Charles Camarda has been fired from his position as Director, Engineering at NASA Johnson Space Center.
STS-121 Launch Dissent Stemmed From Risk to Shuttle, Not Astronauts
The decision of two top NASA managers to vote against the upcoming July 1 launch of the space shuttle Discovery pivoted on the risk of losing the orbiter, but not its astronaut crew, the officials said Wednesday.
NASA Chief Michael Griffin's STS-121 Flight Rationale Explained
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA Administrator Mike Griffin responded at length this weekend to questions about his decision to go ahead with a July 1 shuttle launch despite the objections of his chiefs of safety and engineering.
NASA Safety Chief Speaks Out on Foam Concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) – NASA's top safety official objected to the agency's decision to press ahead with the launch of Discovery next month without fixing a potentially catastrophic foam-shedding problem, but said he won't appeal – and won't resign in protest – because he does not believe the shuttle astronauts' lives are in danger.
NASA’s Chief Engineer, Safety Officer Weigh in on STS-121 Launch Decision
Two senior NASA officials who voted not to proceed with a July 1 launch of the space shuttle Discovery said Monday that astronaut safety is foremost in their minds, and that the upcoming spaceflight holds no threat to the STS-121 crew’s safe return.
Launch Date Set: STS-121 Crew To Fly July 1
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s second space shuttle flight since the Columbia tragedy will launch as planned on July 1 after two days of intense debate that included dissent from two senior officials, the space agency said Saturday.
Poised for Flight
Launch Date Expected Today for Space Shuttle Discovery
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA officials are expected to decide today whether the space shuttle Discovery will launch on July 1 or later next month after two days of intense discussion at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
STS-121 Shuttle Commander: 'We're ready.'
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – With a launch rehearsal in the bag, the next astronaut crew to ride NASA’s space shuttle Discovery into orbit is primed for a planned July space shot, the mission’s commander said Friday.
Look! Up in the Sky! STS-121 Gets the Superhero Treatment
As comic book fans countdown to the return of Superman in theaters, NASA is preparing the shuttle for its second return to flight mission. Now, a NASA engineer has drawn for the space agency a mission poster that captures the excitement of the pending launch in the style of a classic comic book cover.
NASA Shuttle Managers Discuss STS-121 Launch Plan
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA mission managers and engineers began a two-day meeting at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Friday to give the space shuttle Discovery a last once-over in preparation for a planned launch next month.
STS-121 Astronauts Practice Launch Abort and Escape Plans
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Seven astronauts aborted the launch of the space shuttle Discovery just seconds before a simulated liftoff Thursday during a dress rehearsal of their planned July 1 space shot.
NASA Begins Mock Countdown for Next Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The clock is ticking down towards a mock Thursday launch for NASA’s STS-121 astronauts, who are preparing to ride the space shuttle Discovery into orbit on July 1.
STS-121 Crew Arrives at NASA Spaceport for Launch Rehearsal
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The next seven astronauts to fly the space shuttle Discovery arrived at NASA’s Florida spaceport Tuesday, each confident they will launch early next month and eager for a final dress rehearsal, their commander said.
Discovery Shuttle Astronauts Ready for STS-121 Mission
HOUSTON – Less than one month remains before NASA’s planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts are gearing up for their orbital ride.
Busy Spacewalks on Tap for STS-121 Mission
HOUSTON – Two shuttle astronauts are prepared to perform a busy pair of spacewalks—and likely one extra—on tap for NASA’s upcoming Discovery mission slated to launch early next month.
Shuttle Discovery ‘Safe to Fly’ July Launch, NASA Says
HOUSTON – The space shuttle Discovery is all but ready to launch seven astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) next month, after nearly a year of external tank redesign work and other safety improvements, the space agency told reporters Thursday.
Faulty Electrical Box Won't Delay Discovery Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL - A faulty electronics box will be replaced on one of shuttle Discovery's solid rocket boosters, but the work won't delay NASA plans to launch its second post-Columbia flight July 1.
NASA Clears Foam Debris Issue for Next Shuttle Flight
Major changes to the space shuttle Discovery’s external fuel tank do not pose an unacceptable risk to NASA’s planned July 1 launch, though some concerns do remain, the space agency said Wednesday.
STS-121 at the Pad: NASA's Discovery Shuttle Reaches Launch Site
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The space shuttle Discovery is back at the launch pad as workers prepare the spaceplane for NASA’s second orbiter mission since the 2003 Columbia accident.
Working Towards Launch
STS-121 Astronauts Train Hard for Shuttle Launch
As engineers prepare NASA’s the space shuttle Discovery for a July launch, the orbiter’s next astronaut crew is training hard for the upcoming spaceflight.
Shuttle Discovery Moves Closer Towards July Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s space shuttle Discovery moved a step closer towards its planned July launch Friday as engineers delivered the orbiter to be mated to its fuel tank and rocket boosters.
NASA Pushes Shuttle Discovery's Move to Friday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s space shuttle Discovery will have to wait one more day before joining its fuel tank and rocket boosters at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the space agency said Thursday.
Shuttle Discovery to Leave Hangar Early
CAPE CANAVERAL - Discovery will move into Kennedy Space Center's massive assembly building this week, marking a key milestone in preparations for a planned July 1 launch on NASA's second post-Columbia shuttle mission.
NASA Forgoes Fuel Tank Test for Next Shuttle Launch
NASA shuttle managers decided Thursday not to test fuel the external tank that will feed the Discovery orbiter during a planned launch this July, space agency officials said.
NASA's Next Shuttle to Fly Without Ice Frost Ramp Fix
NASA’s next space shuttle will launch no earlier than July 1 and without extra modifications to its already redesigned external fuel tank, the space agency said Friday.
NASA Plans Partial Fix for Discovery Orbiter to Reduce ISS Risk
CAPE CANAVERAL – Only one of four electronics boxes that could fail on Discovery and destroy the docked orbiter and the International Space Station will be replaced before the shuttle flies to the outpost in July, officials said Wednesday.
Shuttle Fuel Tank to Meet Boosters for NASA's STS-121 Flight
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA aims to start connecting a redesigned external tank and two rocket boosters today while managers consider data that shows extra safety modifications might be needed before the agency's next shuttle flight.
NASA Tweaks Flight Plan for Next Shuttle Launch
NASA space shuttle managers decided Thursday to adjust the flight plan for the upcoming STS-121 mission aboard Discovery, a move that maximizes launch options while reducing stress on the orbiter’s external fuel tank, space agency officials said.
NASA Pulls Planned Spacewalk from Next Shuttle Mission
NASA has pulled a spacewalk dedicated to heat shield repair techniques from the schedule of its next space shuttle flight to make way for additional inspections with the orbiter’s robotic arm, the U.S. space agency said Monday.
NASA Mulls Fuel Tank Test for Next Shuttle Flight
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA is mapping out plans to test shuttle Discovery's external tank at its Kennedy Space Center launch pad, but a final decision on whether to proceed with the fuel-loading operation still is pending.
STS-121 Shuttle Commander Confident in July Launch Target
As NASA celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first shuttle flight Wednesday, the commander of the space agency’s next orbiter to fly said he is confident his crew will launch in July.
NASA Perplexed at Trail of Mishaps
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Over the past three months, workers at the Kennedy Space Center have tripped, dropped things, banged into sensitive equipment and started fires in a deadly string of accidents that has NASA perplexed.
Mishap Mangles Shuttle Part
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA launched an investigation Monday into yet another shuttle workplace accident: serious damage to a nearly half-million-dollar power controller that routes electricity to critical orbiter systems.
Shuttle Fuel Tank Workers Ding Foam Insulation
CAPE CANAVERAL - Workers on Tuesday dinged foam on an external fuel tank scheduled to fly with the shuttle in July.
NASA Set for Shuttle Fuel Tank Repair
CAPE CANAVERAL - Kennedy Space Center technicians will take on a lengthy and unusual job today, one aimed at getting inside a shuttle external tank to swap out suspect fuel sensors.
NASA Propelled by Schedule Pressure, Report Says
CAPE CANAVERAL - Three months before the planned launch of shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts, NASA again is under dangerous pressure to fly so it can finish the International Space Station by 2010.
Faulty Fuel Tank Sensors Prompt Launch Delay for NASA's Next Shuttle Mission
NASA will delay the launch of its next space shuttle mission in order to replace a set of potentially faulty fuel sensors inside the orbiter’s massive external tank, the agency’s shuttle program chief said Tuesday.
Shuttle Fuel Tank Glitch Prompts Concern for NASA
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Space shuttle Discovery has two problems – a fuel tank sensor that misreads and a robotic arm that was dinged – that could potentially delay its planned launch in May.
Next Shuttle Fuel Tank to Fly Arrives at NASA Spaceport
The external tank that will fuel NASA’s next space shuttle during launch arrived at the agency’s Florida spaceport late Wednesday after a five-day trip along the Gulf Coast.
NASA Aims at May 10 for Next Shuttle Flight
NASA’s is aiming for a May 10 target to launch its next space shuttle flight – the second to fly since the Columbia accident – though much work remains before the mission lifts off, the agency’s shuttle chief said Tuesday.
NASA to Ship Shuttle Fuel Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL - Kennedy Space Center is preparing to receive a shuttle fuel tank and get it ready for a May launch. The tank is expected to ship out of New Orleans this morning.
Discovery
Astronauts Check Shuttle for Return to Flight Mission
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fl.
– Six astronauts set to ride NASA’s Discovery orbiter to the International
Space Station (ISS) are looking forward to launching spaceward later this year,
though some issues remain to be resolved before a firm date can be set.
Air
Apparent: New Oxygen Systems for the ISS
Astronauts aboard
the International Space Station (ISS) will be breathing easy after the next
shuttle visit to the orbital research platform.
STS-121
Shuttle Commander Looks Towards Launch
As NASA honors
the memories of astronauts lost in the pursuit of human spaceflight, the
commander of the agency’s next shuttle mission is also looking toward the
future.
Remembering Challenger: Shuttle Disaster and Others Refocus NASA
Friday marks the beginning of a somber time of year for NASA,
commemorating the first of three spaceflight disasters that have claimed the
lives of 17 astronauts over the last 40 years.
Brazil's
First Astronaut, Next ISS Crew Ready for Flight
HOUSTON – Brazil’s
first astronaut and two veteran spacefarers are eagerly awaiting their chance
to launch toward the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA
Announces Next Space Station Crew
NASA formally
announced the next crew bound for the International Space Station (ISS)
Thursday, a two-astronaut team set to launch in mid-March aboard a Russian
Soyuz spacecraft.
NASA
Nixes Foam Ramp for Next Space Shuttle Flight
NASA will not fly a
protective foam ramp aboard the fuel tank for its next space shuttle mission,
eliminating a potential launch debris hazard that cropped
up during July’s launch of the Discovery orbiter, a top agency official
said Thursday.
NASA's PAL Ramp Foam
Problem a Lesson in Failure, Shuttle Chief Says
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fl.
-- NASA’s efforts to address foam debris issues with its shuttle fuel tanks has
proven an object lesson of how even the most diligent spaceflight risk
management efforts can fail, the agency’s shuttle chief said Wednesday.
NASA
Likely To Fly Next Shuttle Sans Foam Ramp
WASHINGTON - NASA
is leaning toward flying its next space shuttle mission without the protective
foam ramp that broke away from Discovery's external tank during its July return
to flight, according to a spokesman for the U.S. space agency.
Work Remains for NASA's
Culture Change
LAKE BUENA VISTA,
Fl. – NASA’s efforts to address human spaceflight risk while preparing for
future exploration made significant strides this year, but much work remains to
be done, space agency risk experts said Tuesday.
Engineers
Find Cracks in Shuttle Fuel Tank Foam
Engineers
investigating a debris shedding problem with NASA’s shuttle fuel tanks have
found a series of hairline cracks in the same area where foam popped free
during the July launch
of the Discovery orbiter, agency officials said Tuesday.
The
International Space Station So Far: Five Years of Service, But Incomplete
The International
Space Station (ISS) hit a milestone for human spaceflight Wednesday, marking five
years of continuous human habitation in Earth orbit.
NASA
Astronauts Hail Space Station's Fifth Year
Five NASA
astronauts held a reunion of sorts in Houston, Texas Thursday to celebrate the
upcoming birthday of a rather bulky five-year-old to be: the International
Space Station (ISS) currently orbiting Earth.
External Tank Changes and Hurricane Delays
NASA Workers
Shield Space Shuttles, Pluto Probe From Hurricane Wilma
NASA’s Florida
spaceport stood all but empty Monday, with only an emergency crew watching over
space shuttles and planetary probes while winds from Hurricane Wilma howled
outside.
NASA
Tackles External Tank Tests, Aims for May '06 Shuttle Launch
With a firm testing
plan in hand and its fuel tank factory back on track, NASA is targeting May
2006 for the launch of its next space shuttle mission.
Revised NASA
Shuttle Plan Includes Most Station Hardware
NASA expects to fly
19 space shuttle missions between 2006 and the orbiter fleet’s planned
retirement in 2010, completing by then a six-person International Space Station
that would include most but not all of the hardware being built by the U.S.
space agency’s international partners.
NASA
Official Offers Shuttle Foam Loss Theory
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. (AP) -- Workers may have accidentally cut or crushed the section of foam
that broke off Discovery's fuel tank during its launch two months ago—a mishap
that threatened the safety of the astronauts and grounded the shuttle fleet.
NASA Chief
Clarifies Comments on Shuttle, Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL -
Saying he "didn't handle the situation well," NASA Administrator Mike
Griffin sent out an agencywide e-mail Monday to
clarify controversial comments on the space shuttle and International Space
Station programs.
NASA
Devises Shuttle External Tank Foam Fix
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA
has a plan to fix its problem-plagued external fuel tanks, and the agency is
studying the possibility of launching its next two shuttle missions in May and
July.
NASA
Ships Space Shuttle Fuel Tank to New Orleans Factory
After a series of
hurricane-related delays,
a space shuttle fuel tank is finally on heading back to its New Orleans
factory.
ISS Mission
Control Resumes Work at Johnson Space Center
NASA mission
controllers are once again in control of the International Space Station (ISS)
as the manned spaceflight facility resumes normal operations after Hurricane
Rita.
Hurricane Causes Minor
Damage at Johnson Space Center
CAPE CANAVERAL -
Johnson Space Center will reopen Monday after suffering what emergency crews
deemed "extremely light" damage Saturday from Hurricane Rita.
Three NASA
Centers Prepare for Hurricane Rita
While NASA’s
Johnson Space Center (JSC) sat all but empty Friday awaiting the arrival of
Hurricane Rita, two other Gulf Coast space facilities are also preparing for
the storm.
NASA
Evacuates Emergency Crew From JSC
CAPE CANAVERAL - A
direct hit to Galveston by Hurricane Rita could cause extensive flooding and
damage to Johnson Space Center and the homes of thousands of NASA and contract
workers, government and university documents show.
NASA Closes Johnson
Space Center as Hurricane Approaches
NASA officials at
the agency’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston closed the manned
spaceflight facility Wednesday as Hurricane Rita approaches the Texas Gulf
Coast.
NASA Keeps
External Tank Work in New Orleans
CAPE CANAVERAL -
The recovery at NASA's hurricane-battered external tank factory in New Orleans
is going so well the agency says it will not need to move some of the work to
Kennedy Space Center as once thought.
NASA Spaceport
Sends Vital Supplies to Gulf Coast Centers
CAPE CANAVERAL - A hurricane
relief flight took off from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday carrying parts
critical to turning the power back on at the space shuttle external tank
factory in New Orleans.
NASA Lauds Shuttle
Fuel Tank Plant Workers
Hurricane Katrina
did a half-billion dollars in damage at a vital shuttle manufacturing plant in
Louisiana, but a ride-out crew of 37 people saved the factory from what could
have been catastrophic damage.
Future
Shuttle Flight Dates Uncertain in Hurricane's Wake
The timing of
NASA’s next shuttle launch remains uncertain as the space agency works to
recover key facilities from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, agency
officials said Thursday.
NASA
Memo: Shuttle Flight Delay to Fall 2006 Possible
NASA’s next space
shuttle flight may have to wait until fall 2006, as the agency grapples with
the effects of Hurricane Katrina and external tank concerns, according to an
internal memo by a top shuttle official.
NASA
Safeguards Shuttle Atlantis, Fuel Tank Against Storm
CAPE CANAVERAL -
The orbiter Atlantis rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building back into its
hangar Tuesday as NASA prepared Kennedy Space Center for high winds and heavy
rains from a storm brewing offshore.
Shuttle
Atlantis Demated From External Tank
CAPE CANAVERAL - A
six-month slip in NASA's next shuttle mission, coupled with hurricane damage to
its external tank factory in New Orleans, is prompting the agency to move a lot
of hardware around Kennedy Space Center.
NASA
Considers Fixing Shuttle Fuel Tanks at KSC
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. – NASA might repair and modify shuttle external tanks at Kennedy Space
Center to make up for time lost to an extended shutdown of a manufacturing
plant in New Orleans.
NASA Facility
Struggles in Wake of Hurricane Katrina
NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where space
shuttle external tanks are constructed, appears to have escaped major damage
from Hurricane
Katrina.
Hurricane
Delays Shuttle Fuel Tank Shipment Indefinitely
CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA
started to take fully assembled shuttle Atlantis apart at Kennedy Space Center
on Wednesday, while plans are on hold to send another external fuel tank back
to its production plant in New Orleans.
NASA Centers
Weather Hurricane Katrina
NASA’s Michoud
Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where space shuttle external tanks are
assembled, and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi have weathered
the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
NASA's
External Tank Facility Feels Brunt of Hurricane Katrina
BOULDER, Colorado
-- Hurricane Katrina is howling its way through Louisiana and has caused damage
at NASA’s Michoud
Assembly Facility in New Orleans, the site where space shuttle external tanks
are assembled.
Hurricane
Katrina Closes NASA's External Tank Factory
The plant that builds space shuttle
external fuel tanks cleared out Sunday morning as colossal Hurricane Katrina
roared toward shore.
Shuttle
Flight Delays Complicate European ISS Plans
The European Space
Agency (ESA) is hoping to minimize the impact NASA’s decision to delay its next
shuttle flight will have on the organization’s plans for the International
Space Station (ISS).
NASA
Ships Shuttle External Tank Back to Factory
A shuttle external
tank began a voyage today from Kennedy Space Center back to the manufacturing
plant in Louisiana as part of the investigation into why Discovery's fuel tank
lost foam during its trip into space.
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.
NASA May
Push Next Shuttle Flight to March 2006
NASA may push back
plans to launch its next shuttle mission until March 2006, allowing engineers
more time to solve an ongoing foam shedding problem with orbiter external
tanks.
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.
NASA:
Foam Problems Make September Launch for Atlantis Unlikely
WASHINGTON—NASA
says a September launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis is unlikely now that a
week of intensive trouble shooting failed to identify “any immediate easy
fixes” to the foam shedding problems seen during Discovery’s July 26 launch.
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.
STS-114 Lays the Groundwork
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.
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.
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.
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.
Launch
Delays Cost NASA Extra $4 Million for Shuttle Oversight Board
CAPE
CANAVERAL - NASA will end up spending three times more than anticipated to pay
for an independent review of the agency's response to recommendations made by
Columbia accident investigators.
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.
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.
Shuttle
Rescue: Four Astronauts Train for the Unthinkable
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Florida (AP) -- What if the next space shuttle winds up in trouble, too? What
if, like Columbia, it's damaged at liftoff and the astronauts are up in space
with a maimed rocketship?
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.
Fixing NASA: Complete Coverage of
Space Shuttle Return to Flight
SPACE.com’s complete coverage
of NASA’s STS-114 Return to Flight mission.
