Former shuttle commander C. Gordon Fullerton, a legendary aviator who flew two space missions, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 76. Read More...

The space shuttle Atlantis, the last of NASA's winged orbiters to fly in space, goes on public display at the Kennedy Space Center visitors complex Saturday, the centerpiece of a spectacular $100 million facility.
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In an emotional memorial, the widow of the shuttle Columbia's commander recalled their last meeting the day before launch and the devastation the families felt when they learned their loved ones had perished.
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Recalling the 2003 Columbia disaster. An essay by William Harwood. Read More...

The shuttle Atlantis was hauled out of the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building for the final time Friday, the last of the iconic winged orbiters to make the transition to Earth-bound museum duty.
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Feeling the wind on its wings for the last time, the space shuttle Endeavour, bolted to the back of a NASA jumbo jet, closed out a three-day valedictory tour Friday, landing at Los Angeles International Airport. Read More...

The shuttle Endeavour, on its way to retirement in Los Angeles, flew from Houston to Edwards Air Force Base atop a 747 jumbo jet Thursday, dropping down for low passes over communities along the way.
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Bolted to the back of a 747 jumbo jet, the space shuttle Endeavour took off on its final voyage Wednesday, a "bittersweet" valedictory tour on the way to museum duty in Los Angeles. Read More...

The shuttle Endeavour was prepped for takeoff Wednesday on a cross-country tour atop a 747 transport jet, giving the public one last chance to see the orbiter in flight before transfer to a Los Angeles museum. Read More...

NASA officially turned the shuttle Discovery over to the Smithsonian Institution Thursday, completing the ship's transition from the world's premier manned spacecraft to the quiet confines of a museum hangar. Read More...

The space shuttle Discovery, bolted to the back of a NASA 747 jumbo jet, departed the Kennedy Space Center for the last time Tuesday, putting on a final show for thousands of Space Coast residents and tourists. Read More...

NASA's decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite is expected to plunge back into Earth's atmosphere later this month, producing a shower of debris. Agency experts say risk to the public is minimal. Read More...

NASA's space shuttle program will officially end on Aug. 31, officials said Friday, less than a month and a half after Atlantis landed to close out the agency's 135th and final shuttle mission. Read More...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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.
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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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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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...

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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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

United Space Alliance, the space shuttle prime contractor, plans to eliminate half its remaining workforce after NASA completes its final shuttle mission this summer, company officials announced Friday. Read More...

NASA's three space shuttles will be displayed by the National Air and Space Museum near Washington, the Kennedy Space Center and the California Science Center in Los Angeles, the agency announced Tuesday. Read More...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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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With windy but acceptable weather expected, the shuttle Discovery's crew is preparing the ship for its 39th and final re-entry, setting up for a Kennedy Space Center landing to close out a successful space station assembly mission. Read More...

With a favorable forecast and no technical problems, NASA is gearing up to bring the shuttle Discovery back to Earth Wednesday to close out the veteran spaceplane's 39th and final flight. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew, packing up for the ship's final re-entry and landing Wednesday, said Americans should be proud of the shuttle program, but expressed concern about the lack of a near-term replacement. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew enjoyed a live wakeup call from Big Head Todd and the Monsters in mission control Tuesday before testing the ship's re-entry systems and packing up for landing Wednesday. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew, after a "Star Trek" wakeup call from William Shatner, undocked from the International Space Station early Monday, wrapping up an extended assembly and resupply mission. Read More...

The Discovery astronauts completed final equipment transfers to and from the International Space Station Sunday and returned to the shuttle to rig the ship for departure early Monday to wrap up a busy resupply mission. Read More...

The Discovery astronauts and their space station counterparts, nearly finished unloading a newly attached storage module, carried out needed maintenance on the station's life support systems Saturday. Read More...

The Discovery astronauts are putting in another day of work to unload the newly attached Permanent Multipurpose Module while mission planners revise the crew's timeline to reflect a second additional day docked to the lab complex. Read More...

President Barack Obama congratulated the shuttle Discovery's crew Thursday, praising the orbiter for a "critical and iconic" final flight to the International Space Station. NASA, meanwhile, extended the shuttle's flight a second day. Read More...

Astronauts Alvin Drew and Stephen Bowen carried out a six-hour 14-minute spacewalk Wednesday to perform a variety of maintenance chores outside the International Space Station (realtime coverage). Read More...

Astronauts Alvin Drew and Stephen Bowen plan to carry out a variety of maintenance chores outside the International Space Station during a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk. Read More...

Russian mission managers rejected a NASA proposal for a Soyuz fly-around of the International Space Station to capture unprecedented views of the lab complex with the shuttle Discovery and a variety of other vehicles attached. Read More...

The Discovery astronauts attached a final U.S. module to the International Space Station Tusday, providing lab crews with needed storage space. Read More...

NASA managers Monday decided to extend the shuttle Discovery's space station resupply mission by one day to give the combined crews more time to outfit a new U.S. module and, possibly, to stage an out-of-this-world photo op. Read More...

Astronauts Alvin Drew and Stephen Bowen completed a "textbook" six-hour 34-minute spacewalk Monday, installing a backup power cable, stowing a failed coolant pump and carrying out a variety of maintenance tasks. Read More...

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...

Discovery's crew worked through a busy day of robotics and equipment transfers Sunday and geared up for a spacewalk Monday. NASA's Mission Management Team, meanwhile, says the ship's heat shield appears to be in good shape. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery glided to a picture-perfect docking with the International Space Station Saturday, the orbiter's 13th and final linkup with the orbital outpost. Read More...

Foam debris that fell from the shuttle Discovery's external tank during launch Thursday was the result of an understood phenomenon and happened well after the timeframe when debris impacts pose a threat to the shuttle's heat shield, a senior NASA manager said Thursday. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery blasted off on its 39th and final mission Thursday, taking off with seconds to spare after a last-minute Air Force computer glitch threatened to derail the launch. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew began strapping in shortly after 1:30 p.m. EST to await launch on the ship's 39th and final mission. There are no technical problems of any significance and forecasters expect good weather for launch at 4:50:27 p.m. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery is on track for blastoff Thursday on its 39th and final mission, a space station resupply flight that features two spacewalks and a final U.S. station module. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's countdown is proceeding smoothly toward launch Thursday on a space station resupply mission. There are no technical problems of any significance and good weather is expected. Read More...

Running three-and-a-half months late, the repaired shuttle Discovery is poised for launch on its 39th and final mission to deliver supplies, spare parts and a final U.S. module to the International Space Station. Read More...

Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center restarted the shuttle Discovery's countdown Monday, setting the stage for launch Thursday on a long-delayed space station assembly flight. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's five-man one-woman crew flew to the Kennedy Space Center Sunday to prepare for blastoff Thursday on a space station resupply mission. Read More...

Senior NASA managers attending a flight readiness review Friday at the Kennedy Space Center unanimously cleared the shuttle Discovery for launch Feb. 24 on a long-delayed space station resupply mission. Read More...

Faced with reduced funding and an uncertain outlook, NASA's $18.7 billion fiscal 2012 budget prioritizes the Obama administration's major goals and objectives but leaves unclear when post-shuttle manned spacecraft might fly. Read More...

Program managers met Friday to review the shuttle Discovery's readiness for launch Feb. 24. Russian managers have been asked to consider a Soyuz fly-around to photograph the station with the shuttle and other spacecraft attached. Read More...

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...

With repairs to its external tank complete, engineers the shuttle Discovery was hauled back to launch pad 39A overnight Monday for work to prepare the ship for a delayed blastoff on a space station resupply mission (UPDATED). Read More...

Astronaut Stephen Bowen, a veteran spacewalker who flew on the most recent shuttle mission last May, will replace Timothy Kopra aboard the shuttle Discovery for its upcoming flight. Kopra was injured in a bicycle mishap last Saturday. Read More...

Astronaut Timothy Kopra, scheduled for launch aboard the shuttle Discovery Feb. 24, was injured Saturday in a bicycle accident, officials said. Details were not released, but officials said "there could be an impact to his mission duties." Read More...

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...

Engineers believe they have zeroed in on the root cause of cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank. A relatively simple modification should resolve the problem once and for all, officials say, setting the stage for another launch attempt Feb. 24.
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NASA managers decide to install radius block stiffeners on all the structural ribs, or stringers, making up the intertank section of the shuttle Discovery's external tank to make them less susceptible to cracks during fueling and launch. Read More...

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...

NASA managers Thursday ruled out an attempt to launch the shuttle Discovery in early February, giving engineers more time to assess repairs and failure scenarios in the wake of external tank cracks discovered after a Nov. 5 launch attempt. Read More...

NASA managers order repairs for recently discovered cracks in shuttle Discovery's external tank and consider additional modifications to beef up all remaining structural ribs, or stringers, in the intertank section of the tank. Read More...

Engineers have found four more small cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank. NASA managers are considering installation of additional doublers to beef up ribs, or stringers, that experience the most stress during launch. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery was hauled off the pad and back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional inspections and possible external tank modifications. Launch remains on hold until at least Feb. 3. Read More...

Realtime coverage of a planned seven-and-a-half-hour fueling test to verify the structural integrity and safety margins of the shuttle Discovery's external tank (UPDATED at 3 p.m. EST; fueling test complete; no obvious problems). Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's external tank will be loaded with liquid oxygen and hydrogen rocket fuel Friday to collect data needed to assess the tank's structural integrity in the wake of cracked ribs, or stringers, found after a Nov. 5 launch attempt.
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NASA is gearing up for an instrumented fueling test Friday, weather permitting, to collect critical data about the structural integrity of the shuttle Discovery's external tank. After the test, the shuttle will be hauled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for additional inspections before another launch try as early as Feb. 3. Read More...

Launch of shuttle Discovery on a space station resupply mission will be delayed until at least Feb. 3, NASA announced Friday, to give engineers more time to conduct tests to determine the root cause of cracks in the ship's external tank. Read More...

The root cause of unexpected cracks in the shuttle Discovery's external tank is still not understood, engineers said Thursday, a critical stumbling block for developing the necessary 'flight rationale' for another launch attempt this month. Read More...

NASA managers reviewing repairs to the shuttle Discovery's external tank and the rationale for making another launch attempt decided Wednesday to delay the flight to at least Dec. 17 and possibly longer (UPDATED at 5 PM EST with news conference). Read More...

Launch of the shuttle Discovery on a space station resupply mission is on hold until at least Dec. 3 to give engineers more time to assess external tank crack repairs and to develop the necessary flight rationale, NASA announced Thursday (UPDATED at 9 p.m. with management comments on 'schedule pressure'). Read More...

Engineers are pressing ahead with work to repair the shuttle Discovery's external tank amid an ongoing analysis to develop "flight rationale," or technical justification, for proceeding with another launch attempt. A decision is expected Monday. Read More...

Engineers have found a fourth crack in the structural ribs, or stringers, making up the central intertank compartment between the liquid oxygen and hydrogen sections of the shuttle Discovery's external tank. Repair plans are under review (UPDATED with vent line status). Read More...

Engineers have discovered another crack on an adjacent stringer in the shuttle Discovery's external tank, officials say (UPDATED at 8:40 PM with NASA statement, additional details). Read More...

Engineers disassembled a leaking hydrogen vent line attachment fitting on the side of Discovery's external tank overnight, revealing an unevenly compressed internal seal (UPDATED at 12:25 PM with NASA statement, new photos). Read More...

Engineers removed foam insulation from the area of a crack on the side of the shuttle Discovery's external tank and found a corresponding crack in an underlying structural stringer. Troubleshooters are hopeful the damage can be fixed at the pad. Read More...

Engineers started work Tuesday to disassemble a leaking hydrogen vent line fitting on the side of the shuttle Discovery's external tank amid troubleshooting to figure out what caused a long crack in the foam insulation of the ship's external tank (UPDATED at 9:25 PM EDT with foam dissecton). Read More...

Engineers geared up Monday to begin inspections and disassembly of a leaking 7-inch hydrogen vent line attached to the shuttle Discovery's external tank amid work to assess what might be needed to fix cracks in the tank's insulation. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery, grounded by a gaseous hydrogen leak and a crack in fuel tank insulation, will not be ready for another launch try before Nov. 30. And that assumes engineers can carry out repairs at the launch pad. Read More...

Launch of the shuttle Discovery on a space station resupply mission, the orbiter's 39th and final flight, has been delayed until at least Nov. 30 because of a hydrogen leak in a vent line. Engineers also are assessing apparent cracks in the insulation of the external tank. Read More...

NASA's Mission Management Team decided to delay launch of the shuttle Discovery another 24 hours, to Friday at 3:04:01 p.m., because of low clouds and rain over the Kennedy Space Center Thursday (Updated with flight plan milestones). Read More...

NASA's mission management team cleared the shuttle Discovery for launch Thursday, weather permitting, after concluding an electrical glitch Tuesday posed no credible safety threat. Liftoff is targeted for 3:29:43 p.m. EDT. Read More...

Engineers troubleshoot apparent glitch in shuttle engine controller circuitry; launch delayed at least 24 hours (UPDATED at 8 PM EDT with news conference). Read More...

NASA marks the 10th anniversary of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, a milestone that was achieved early Tuesday after 57,361 orbits and 1.5 billion miles in low-Earth orbit. Read More...

The shuttle DIscovery's final voyage is a critical mission for the International Space Station as NASA retires the shuttle fleet and transitions to a new model for resupplying the lab and supporting a full-time crew of six (mission preview). Read More...

NASA's Mission Management Team met Monday and unanimously agreed to press ahead with plans to launch the shuttle Discovery Wednesday, weather permitting, on a space station assembly flight. Read More...

Engineers completed repairs and retest of suspect fittings in one of the shuttle Discovery's aft rocket pods Sunday, clearing the way for the start of the ship's countdown to launch Wednesday (UPDATED at 2:15 PM EDT with start of countdown). Read More...

Engineers have replaced suspect fittings in the shuttle Discovery's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod, but testing and other work have delayed launch another day to Wednesday (UPDATED at 11:10 a.m. EDT with news briefing). Read More...

NASA managers are optimistic leaky quick-disconnect fittings in the shuttle Discovery's right-side maneuvering system rocket pod can be repaired in time for a day-late launching Tuesday. Read More...

Engineers are troubleshooting two leaks at fittings in the helium and nitrogen systems used by the shuttle Discovery's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod (UPDATED at 9:20 a.m. EDT with countdown/launch delay). Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew flew to the Kennedy Space Center Thursday to prepare for launch Monday on a mission to resupply the International Space Station. Read More...

After reviewing weekend work to fix a small fuel leak, NASA managers attending a flight readiness review Monday cleared the shuttle Discovery for launch Nov. 1 on a space station resupply mission (UPDATED at 5:00 PM EDT with news conference; quotes and details). Read More...

Engineers replaced two seals in a suspect fuel-line flange aboard the shuttle Discovery Saturday in a bid to resolve an on-again, off-gain leak and keep the ship on track for launch Nov. 1 on a space station resupply mission. Read More...

Engineers drain propellant from the shuttle Discovery's maneuvering rocket system before beginning weekend work to replace seals in a suspect flange (UPDATED at 7:30 AM 10/22/10 with fuel offload). Read More...

Engineers are troubleshooting a small fuel leak in the shuttle Discovery's orbital maneuvering system plumbing. NASA managers are hopeful the problem can be resolved in time for a planned Nov. 1 launch (UPDATED at 5:10 PM EDT with decision to replace seals). Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's crew strapped in for a dress-rehearsal countdown Friday that sets the stage for launch Nov. 1 on a space station assembly mission. It will be Discovery's 39th and final flight. Read More...

President Obama signed NASA's budget authorization Monday, setting the stage for debate on funding details during a 'tough' appropriations process. Read More...

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...

The shuttle Discovery was hauled to the Vehicle Assembly Building Thursday for attachment to an external tank and boosters. If all goes well, the orbiter will be hauled to launch pad 39A Sept. 20 for blastoff Nov. 1 on its final mission.
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NASA shuttle managers are keeping options open while awaiting a decision, possibly as late as the end of the year or early January, on whether to mount an additional shuttle flight next June. Read More...

If NASA wins political approval for one additional space shuttle mission, the agency is protectively considering a June 28, 2011, target launch date. Read More...

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

A House committee, reviewing its version of NASA's $19 billion 2011 funding package, approved an amendment calling for an additional shuttle flight next summer to deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
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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 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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NASA managers Thursday formally retargeted the program's final two missions for launches Nov. 1 and Feb. 26. Read More...

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...

The shuttle Atlantis closed out its 32nd and final planned mission with a smooth Florida landing Wednesday, wrapping up a quarter century of service with a successful space station assembly mission.
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After resolving an issue with the shuttle's re-entry cooling system, the Atlantis astronauts closed the ship's payload bay doors just before 5:30 a.m. EDT. The crew is setting up for a deorbit rocket firing around 7:42 a.m. and a landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 8:48 a.m.
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Keeping tabs on the weather, the Atlantis astronauts are preparing for re-entry and landing today at the Kennedy Space Center to close out the shuttle's 32nd and final flight.
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