'Mission complete:' Atlantis returns to Earth, closing out final shuttle flight

The shuttle Atlantis dropped out of a moon-dappled sky and settled to a flawless landing Thursday to close out NASA's 135th and final shuttle mission, the end of an era for American manned spaceflight. (UPDATED) Read More...

Astronauts ready Atlantis for final re-entry

The crew of the shuttle Atlantis is gearing up for NASA's final shuttle re-entry and landing to close out three decades of shuttle operations. There are no technical issues and the weather appears ideal. Read More...

Weather looks good for final shuttle landing

NASA braces for the space shuttle Atlantis' historic return to Florida Thursday, bringing the iconic program to an end after three decades and 135 missions. Read More...

Astronauts test re-entry systems, pack for landing

The crew of the shuttle Atlantis, working through one of the busiest days of their mission, tested the ship's re-entry systems Wednesday and packed up for landing Thursday to close out NASA's final shuttle flight. Read More...

Shuttle Atlantis undocks from space station (UPDATED)

The crew of the shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station early Tuesday after a successful resupply mission, setting the stage for NASA's 135th and final shuttle landing Thursday. Read More...

Astronauts move cargo module to shuttle, bid station crew farewell (UPDATED)

The Atlantis astronauts moved the Raffaello cargo module back to the shuttle Monday, closing out a busy space station resupply mission. The crew then floated back aboard the orbiter to rig the ship for undocking early Tuesday. Read More...

Shuttle crew wraps up space station resupply work (UPDATED)

The Atlantis astronauts put in a final day of logistics transfer work Sunday, working through off-duty time to finish moving a last few items into the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module for return to Earth. Read More...

Shuttle crew moves into home stretch of final shuttle mission

Working through the home stretch of NASA's final shuttle mission, the Atlantis astronauts are focusing on repacking a cargo module for return to Earth and wrapping up logistics transfers to the space station. Read More...

Flight computer restarted; CBS Radio interviews crew

Shuttle commander Christopher Ferguson successfully restarted a shuttle flight computer early Friday that failed Thursday, setting off alarms and waking the crew. The astronauts will chat with President Obama later in the day. Read More...

President Obama congratulates shuttle crew, vows 'exciting new era' of exploration

President Barack Obama called the International Space Station Friday to congratulate the shuttle Atlantis' crew on NASA's 135th and final shuttle mission, vowing an "exciting new era" of space exploration. Read More...

Cargo transfers 70 percent done; computer failure wakes astronauts

The Atlantis astronauts took a half-day off Thursday to relax and enjoy the view after a busy but productive week in space. The crew is about 70 percent complete with work to transfer cargo to and from the space station. Read More...

Shuttle astronauts focus on cargo transfers to station (UPDATED)

The Atlantis astronauts are about halfway through a busy week of supply transfers to the International Space Station. The lab's toilet is back in operation after a brief hiatus, along with the urine recycling system. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-135 EVA-1

Space station astronauts Michael Fossum and Ronald Garan staged a successful six-hour 31-minute spacewalk Tuesday, the final excursion of the space shuttle era. Read More...

Space station astronauts prep for spacewalk

Two space station astronauts are gearing up for a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk to install experiment hardware on the lab complex and to move a failed coolant pump to the shuttle Atlantis for return to Earth. Read More...

Astronauts attach cargo module to ISS; shuttle mission extended one day

The Atlantis astronauts attached a bus-size cargo module to the International Space Station early Monday. Mission managers, meanwhile, approved a one-day mission extension to give the crew more time for logistics transfers. Read More...

Shuttle Atlantis docks with space station one last time (UPDATED)

The space shuttle Atlantis glided to a picture-perfect docking with the International Space Station Sunday, bringing more than five tons of supplies and equipment to the sprawling lab complex in the shuttle program's final visit. Read More...

Astronauts kick off heat shield inspections, docking preps

The Atlantis astronauts are working through a busy day in space, inspecting the shuttle's heat shield and gearing up for rendezvous and docking with International Space Station Sunday. Read More...

Shuttle Atlantis rockets into history as final flight begins

After a cliff-hangar countdown, the space shuttle Atlantis majestically rocketed into history Friday, putting on one last show for spectators jamming area roads and beaches to witness NASA's 135th and final shuttle launch. Read More...

Realtime coverage of STS-135 launch countdown

Despite a dismal forecast, NASA managers decided to fuel the shuttle Atlantis for a launch attempt Friday, setting the stage for the agency's 135th and final shuttle mission (UPDATED). Read More...

NASA monitors weather, preps Atlantis for Friday launch (UPDATED)

Keeping tabs on stormy weather, engineers readied the shuttle Atlantis for blastoff Friday on NASA's final shuttle flight. Engineers reviewed data Thursday to make sure no sensitive systems were affected by a lightning strike near the pad. Read More...

Shuttle forecast 70 percent 'no go' for Friday launch (UPDATED)

Forecasters are predicting a 70 percent chance of stormy weather Friday that could delay launch of the shuttle Atlantis. But NASA managers say they plan to press ahead barring a dramatic change for the worse. Read More...

STS-135 Mission Preview

The shuttle Atlantis is poised for launch Friday on the iconic program's 135th and final flight, bringing the curtain down on one of the nation's greatest technological triumphs (mission preview). Read More...

Countdown begins for final shuttle flight; stormy weather likely

Countdown clocks began ticking Tuesday for the shuttle Atlantis' launch Friday on NASA's 135th and final shuttle mission, a flight to deliver more than 8,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Read More...

Astronauts arrive for final shuttle launch

The crew of the shuttle Atlantis celebrated the July Fourth holiday Monday by flying to Florida aboard sleek T-38 jet trainers to prepare for launch Friday on the 135th and final shuttle mission.
Read More...

External tank inspections proceeding smoothly, fuel valve replaced

With the Atlantis astronauts on hand for a practice countdown Thursday, engineers are making good progress with work to inspect beefed-up ribs in the shuttle's external tank and to replace a leaking main engine fuel valve. Read More...

Atlantis crew flies to Florida for emergency training, practice countdown

The shuttle Atlantis' crew flew to the Kennedy Space Center Monday to review emergency procedures and participate in a dress-rehearsal countdown Thursday, a major milestone on the road to launch July 8. Read More...

Main engine fuel valve replacement no impact to 7/8 launch target

Engineers readying the shuttle Atlantis for launch July 8 plan to replace a leaking main engine fuel valve in parallel with external tank inspections next week. Read More...

Shuttle fueling test underway; engine valve issue

After a delay to assess the impact of overnight thunderstorms, engineers pressed ahead with a fueling test Wednesday to verify the integrity of structural stiffeners in the shuttle Atlantis' external tank. 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...

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...

Final shuttle crew named for possible station flight

NASA names four astronauts to train for a possible rescue mission aboard the shuttle Atlantis to back up the crew of a February mission. If funding is approved, NASA hopes to launch Atlantis on an actual space station resupply fight. Read More...