The shuttle Discovery glided to a smooth touchdown Wednesday to wrap up the orbiter's 39th and final mission, a milestone marking the beginning of the end for NASA's winged rocketships. Read More...

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...

Astronauts Alvin Drew and Stephen Bowen plan to install a backup electrical cable between two space station modules, store a failed ammonia pump module and perform general maintenance during a planned 6.5-hour spacewalk. 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 Discovery astronauts are working through a routine but busy day in space, highlighted by inspections of the shuttle's nose cap and wing leading edge panels, along with preparations for docking with the space station Saturday (Updated at 12:40 p.m. EST). 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The shuttle Discovery was hauled to the launch pad overnight Monday for work to ready the ship for blastoff Nov. 1 on a space station resupply flight, its 39th and final mission. Read More...

Engineers repositioned a wayward nut and finished bolting the shuttle Discovery to its external fuel tank early Saturday. Roll out to pad 39A remains on track for Sept. 20. Read More...

The shuttle Discovery's attachment to its external fuel tank was temporarily put on hold Friday pending troubleshooting to resolve problems with a mis-aligned nut. 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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A water line break forces NASA to close the Kennedy Space Center, delaying the shuttle Discovery's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building for attachment to an external tank and solid-fuel boosters. Read More...

Assessing follow-up work needed in the wake of a coolant pump replacement aboard the International Space Station, NASA managers decided this week to defer additional spacewalk tasks to the crew of a November shuttle flight. 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...