Mark Kelly announces retirement from NASA

Astronaut Mark Kelly, commander of the shuttle Endeavour's final mission and husband of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, gravely wounded in a January assassination attempt, will retire from NASA and the Navy on Oct. 1. Read More...

NASA releases photos of shuttle Endeavour and space station

NASA has released dramatic photographs of the shuttle Endeavour docked at the International Space Station that were shot during the departure of the Russian Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft May 23. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour glides to smooth Florida touchdown (UPDATED)

The shuttle Endeavour glided to a ghostly pre-dawn landing Wednesday to close out its 25th and final mission, clearing the way for NASA's last shuttle launch July 8. Read More...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Engineers troubleshoot electrical glitch (UPDATED)

Engineers troubleshooting an electrical glitch that grounded the shuttle Endeavour Friday have verified that a cockpit fuse panel is working normally. Additional tests to narrow down the source of the problem will determine if a launch attempt Monday is possible. Read More...

Hydraulic system glitch grounds shuttle Endeavour (UPDATED)

Trouble with the shuttle Endeavour's hydraulic power system Friday forced NASA managers to delay launch on a long-awaited space station assembly mission. Read More...

Weathering storms, Endeavour fueled for launch

The shuttle Endeavour was fueled for launch Friday after weathering overnight storms that delayed countdown preparations. Forecasters are calling for a 70 percent chance of good weather for launch at 3:47:55 p.m. EDT. Read More...

Storm front slows, shuttle launch now 70 percent 'go'

NASA managers kept tabs on stormy weather approaching the Kennedy Space Center Thursday as the shuttle Endeavour is prepared for launch Friday. The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of good weather. Read More...

Endeavour in good shape; pre-launch weather a concern

The shuttle Endeavour's countdown is ticking smoothly toward launch Friday on a space station assembly mission. Commander Mark Kelly's wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, flew to Florida Wednesday to be on hand for launch. Read More...

STS-134 Mission Preview

NASA is readying the shuttle Endeavour for launch Friday on its 25th and final mission, a high-profile voyage to deliver supplies, spare parts and a $2 billion physics experiment to the International Space Station. Read More...

STS-134 countdown begins; astronauts arrive for launch

The Endeavour astronauts flew to Florida Tuesday for the start of their countdown to blastoff Friday on a high-profile space station assembly flight. Forecasters are predicting an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour cleared for April 29 launch

The shuttle Endeavour has been cleared for launch April 29 on its 25th and final mission, a four-spacewalk flight to deliver supplies, spare parts and a $2 billion particle physics detector to the International Space Station. Read More...

Government shutdown averted in last-minute deal

A last-minute compromise averted a looming government shutdown late Friday with agreement on a stop-gap spending bill. A vote is expected next Thursday on legislation that will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. Read More...

NASA braces for possible government shutdown

Bracing for a potential government shutdown, NASA managers are evaluating the shuttle launch schedule and putting plans in place to continue near-normal operation of the International Space Station if a furlough is ordered. Read More...

Next shuttle launch delayed to April 29

The shuttle Endeavour's launch on a mission to the International Space Station has been delayed 10 days to April 29 to avoid a conflict with the arrival of an unmanned Russian Progress supply ship. Read More...

Kelly says 'good chance' his injured wife can attend launch

Kelly says his injured wife continues to make progress and that there's a 'pretty good chance' she will be able to attend his launch aboard the shuttle Endeavour next month. Read More...

Kelly abruptly cancels media interviews

Shuttle commander Mark Kelly abruptly pulled himself from planned pre-flight media interviews, citing a reluctance to field personal questions about his wife, Gabrielle Giffords. Read More...

Worker killed in shuttle launch pad mishap (UPDATED)

A United Space Alliance worker was killed early Monday after a fall at launch complex 39A where the shuttle Endeavour is being readied for flight April 19. All work at the pad was suspended for the day. Read More...

Shuttle Endeavour hauled to launch pad

The shuttle Endeavour was mounted atop launch pad 39A Friday, setting the stage for launch April 19 on a four-spacewalk mission to resupply the International Space Station and deliver a $2 billion physics experiment.
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Shuttle Endeavour moved to assembly building for March 10 rollout to pad

Shuttle Endeavour was hauled from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building Monday for attachment to an external tank and solid-fuel boosters. The shuttle's 25th and final launch is targeted for April 19. Read More...

Kelly rejoins Endeavour crew for April flight to space station (UPDATED)

Astronaut Mark Kelly will resume training to command the shuttle Endeavour for its final flight in April, rejoining his crewmates one month after a Tucson shooting spree that left his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, critically injured. Read More...

Sturckow will replace Kelly in near-term training for April shuttle flight (UPDATED)

Veteran shuttle commander Frederick Sturckow will replace Mark Kelly in near-term training for an April shuttle flight, allowing Kelly to remain with wife Gabrielle Giffords as she recovers from a gunshot wound to the head. Read More...

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, wife of shuttle commander Mark Kelly, shot in Tucson

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, wife of shuttle commander Mark Kelly, was shot in the head during a public meeting in Tucson Saturday. A doctor at the University of Arizona trauma center said Giffords was expected to survive. Read More...

External tank for February shuttle flight arrives at KSC

The external tank that will be used by the shuttle Endeavour in February -- the last tank that will be delivered to the Kennedy Space Center -- was off loaded from its transport barge Tuesday and moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building. Read More...

$2 billion space station particle detector delivered to Kennedy Space Center

A $2 billion physics experiment bound for the International Space Station was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center Thursday after a busy summer of work to replace the magnet at the heart of the powerful particle detector. Read More...

NASA looks for source of debris found in ET feedline

Engineers are looking into how a metal washer made it into an external tank liquid oxygen feedline. Read More...

Tank for last planned shuttle flight heads to KSC

The external tank for the final planned shuttle mission was rolled out of Lockheed Martin's Michoud Assembly Facility Thursday to begin the 900-mile voyage to the Kennedy Space Center. Read More...

Shuttle contractor plans October layoffs

Shuttle prime contractor United Space Alliance plans to lay off about 15 percent of its 8,100-strong space shuttle workforce Oct. 1, company officials announced Tuesday.
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Shuttle launch dates reset

NASA managers Thursday formally retargeted the program's final two missions for launches Nov. 1 and Feb. 26. Read More...

NASA assesses shuttle launch dates

NASA managers Tuesday asked shuttle engineers to assess retargeting the final two space shuttle missions, moving launch of a mid-September flight with Discovery to Oct. 29 and a late November flight by Endeavour to Feb. 28. The changes would give engineers more time to optimize payloads bound for the International Space Station and avoid launch conflicts with other flights to the lab complex. Read More...