Shuttle Endeavour rigged for entry; Atlantis heads for launch pad

The shuttle Endeavour's crew closed the ship's payload bay doors and geared up for re-entry and landing early Wednesday to close out the orbiter's 25th and final mission. Touchdown is expected at 2:35 a.m. EDT. Read More...

Astronauts test Endeavour's re-entry systems, prep for landing (UPDATED)

The Endeavour astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems overnight Monday and began packing up for landing early Wednesday to close out the orbiter's 25th and final voyage. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour undocks from International Space Station (UPDATED)

The shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station for the 12th and final time late Sunday, backing away for a fly-around photo survey before testing new navigation sensors and software.
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Shuttle astronauts return to Endeavour, prepare for undocking (UPDATED)

The Endeavour astronauts wrapped up last-minute transfers early Sunday, said farewell to the crew of the International Space Station and moved back aboard the shuttle to prepare the ship for undocking Sunday night. Read More...

Astronauts work on CO2 scrubber, transfers (UPDATED)

The shuttle Endeavour's crew helped out with repairs to one of the International Space Station's carbon dioxide scrubbers Saturday as NASA's next-to-last shuttle mission moved into the home stretch of a 16-day mission.
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Realtime coverage of STS-134 EVA No. 4

Astronauts Michael Fincke and Gregory Chamitoff wrapped up a xx-hour xx-minute spacewalk early Friday, completing the U.S. segment of the International Space Station after 12 years of construction. Read More...

Endeavour astronauts set for final spacewalk

The Endeavour astronauts plan to carry out a fourth and final spacewalk Friday to mount the shuttle's no-longer-needed heat shield inspection boom on the International Space Station. Read More...

Astronauts inspect heat shield; Kelly talks to Tucson media

The Endeavour astronauts carried out a final inspection of the shuttle's heat shield early Thursday, fielded questions from reporters and geared up for a fourth and final spacewalk Friday. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-134 EVA No. 3

Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Michael Fincke carried out a six-hour 54-minute spacewalk Wednesday, installing a robot arm mounting fixture on the space station and installing wiring for the Russian segment. Read More...

NASA selects Orion derivative for deep space missions

NASA will develop a version of the Bush administration's Orion capsule for future deep space missions beyond Earth orbit, the agency announced Tuesday. But it's not yet known when the spacecraft might fly. Read More...

Shuttle astronauts set for Wednesday spacewalk

The Endeavour astronauts helped out with space station maintenance Tuesday amid preparations for an overnight spacewalk, the third of four planned by the shuttle fliers. Read More...

Soyuz TMA-20 lands in Kazakhstan (UPDATED)

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three returning space station crew members landed in Kazakhstan Monday to wrap up a 159-day stay in space. Read More...

Shuttle crew takes time off amid Soyuz TMA-20 undocking preps

The Endeavour astronauts took the day off Monday amid preparations for the afternoon departure of three space station crew members aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Read More...

Space station change-of-command ceremony

In a brief ceremony Sunday on the eve of undocking, outgoing Expedition 27 commander Dmitry Kondratyev handed over command of the International Space Station to cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-134 EVA No. 2

Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Michael Fincke completed an eight-hour seven-minute spacewalk at 10:12 a.m. EDT Sunday, the second of four EVAs planned by the Endeavour astronauts. Read More...

Astronauts set for second spacewalk

Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Michael Fincke are set for a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk Sunday to top off the ammonia coolant in a space station solar array and to lubricate a solar array drive mechanism. Read More...

Analysis shows damaged heat shield tile no threat to re-entry (UPDATED)

Data from a "focused" inspection of a damaged heat shield tile on the belly of the shuttle Endeavour shows the orbiter can safely re-enter as is, without the need for any repairs or additional study, NASA said Saturday. Read More...

Pope Benedict XVI calls astronauts

Pope Benedict XVI called the combined shuttle-station crews from the Vatican Saturday, asking about the environment and the role of science and technology in solving global problems. Read More...

NASA orders 'focused' inspection of damaged heat shield tile

The Endeavour astronauts will use an instrumented boom on the end of the shuttle's robot arm early Saturday to make a close-up, "focused" inspection of a gouge in a heat shield tile on the belly of the orbiter. Read More...

Departing Soyuz crew to snap space station portrait

U.S. and Russian space managers have agreed to stage an out-of-this-world photo op Monday when the crew of a departing Soyuz photographs the space station and the shuttle Endeavour in a one-of-a-kind family portrait. Read More...

Shuttle Atlantis re-targeted for final launch on July 8

NASA managers have retargeted launch of the Atlantis on the 135th and final shuttle flight for around 11:40 a.m. EDT on July. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-134 EVA No. 1

Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Gregory Chamitoff are carrying out a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to replace space exposure experiments and to set up an ammonia coolant line for use during an EVA Sunday. Read More...

Astronauts prep for first spacewalk

Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Gregory Chamitoff are gearing up for a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk, the first of four planned for the shuttle Endeavour's mission. Read More...

NASA still assessing need for 'focussed' inspection of shuttle heat shield

Engineers are continuing to assess two damage sites on the belly of the shuttle Endeavour to determine if an additional, "focused," inspection might be needed Saturday to collect more data. Read More...

Endeavour astronauts install $2 billion cosmic ray detector (UPDATED)

The $2 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer was attached to the International Space Station early Thursday. Scientists say the instrument already is detecting "thousands and thousands" of cosmic ray particles. Read More...

Kelly says wife doing well after surgery

Shuttle commander Mark Kelly told reporters Thursday his wife, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, came through surgery Wednesday in good condition as she continues her recovery from an assassination attempt in January. Read More...

NASA assesses tile damage on shuttle Endeavour's belly

Engineers are assessing several gouges and dings spotted in protective heat shield tiles on the underside of the shuttle Endeavour during final approach to the space station Wednesday. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour docks with space station (UPDATED)

Commander Mark Kelly guided the shuttle Endeavour to a "silky smooth" docking with the International Space Station Wednesday and his crewmates successfully mounted a massive spare parts pallet on the lab's power truss. Read More...

Astronauts inspect heat shield; external tank performed well during launch

The Endeavour astronauts carried out a detailed inspection of the shuttle Endeavour's nose cap and wing leading edge panels Tuesday amid work to ready the shuttle Atlantis for launch on NASA's final shuttle flight in July. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour rockets away on final mission (UPDATED)

The shuttle Endeavour rocketed away on its 25th and final flight Monday, putting on a spectacular, if brief, show for spectators as it knifed through a low deck of clouds and streaked into orbit. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-134 launch countdown (UPDATED)

Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates have strapped in aboard the shuttle Endeavour to await liftoff at 8:56:28 a.m. EDT. Forecasters are monitoring a deck of low clouds near the spaceport that could cause problems. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour readied for fueling (UPDATED)

Engineers readied the shuttle Endeavour for fueling overnight Sunday, setting the stage for launch early Monday on a space station assembly mission. Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of good weather. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour cleared for launch

NASA's Mission Management Team met Saturday and cleared the shuttle Endeavour for launch Monday on a delayed mission to deliver a $2 billion particle physics detector to the International Space Station. Read More...

Countdown begins for Monday shuttle launch

Engineers restarted the shuttle Endeavour's countdown Friday, setting the stage for launch Monday on a space station assembly flight. Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of good weather. Read More...

Endeavour astronauts return to Florida to prep for Monday launch

The Endeavour astronauts flew back to Florida Thursday to prepare for a delayed launch Monday on a space station assembly mission. Forecasters are predicting a 70 percent chance of good weather. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour cleared for May 16 launch try

NASA managers met Monday and decided to press ahead with work to ready the shuttle Endeavour for a second launch try May 16 after extensive troubleshooting to resolve problems with hydraulic system fuel line heaters. Read More...

Missile warning satellite boosted into space

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket successfully boosted a $1.3 billion missile early warning satellite into orbit Saturday after a picture-perfect liftoff from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Read More...

Shuttle launch slips to at least May 16

The shuttle Endeavour's launch will be delayed to at least May 16, NASA officials said Friday, pending tests to confirm the health of hydraulic system electrical components that derailed an April 29 attempt. Read More...

Failure analysis indicates possible external short circuit

Engineers troubleshooting a suspect electrical distribution box removed from the shuttle Endeavour's engine compartment after a launch scrub Friday have found damage that could indicate an external short circuit. Read More...

Italian space station astronaut's mother dies

European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli, nearing the end of a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station, is mourning the death of his 78-year-old mother, who passed away Monday near Milan, Italy, after an illness. Read More...

Shuttle launch slips to at least May 10, possibly later

Work to repair the shuttle Endeavour will delay the ship's next launch attempt to at least May 10, engineers said Monday. An official launch date is expected Friday, after repairs are complete. Read More...

Avionics swap-out ordered; shuttle launch off until at least May 8 (UPDATED)

Engineers have traced an electrical glitch that grounded the shuttle Endeavour Friday to an avionics box in the ship's engine compartment. Replacing the box will delay launch until at least May 8. Read More...