International Space Station

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Repairs Throw Wrench Into Spacewalk Plan

Ripped solar wing affects space station, shuttle schedules

(Newser) - A ripped solar wing on the international space station has fouled NASA's spacewalk plans for the crew of its shuttle Discovery—and could send ripples through schedules for future shuttle missions and hinder station construction. Today's scheduled spacewalk has been canceled; one scheduled for Thursday to inspect a broken rotary...

Space Station's Solar Panel Rips
Space Station's Solar Panel Rips

Space Station's Solar Panel Rips

Spacewalking astronauts discover large tear

(Newser) - A critical solar panel on the International Space Station tore today as Mission Control was unfurling it remotely. The station's power supply was already wobbly because of damage to another panel discovered Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reports, and the rip worsens the problem. Astronauts beamed photos of the panel to...

Astronauts Wrestle With Solar Panel
Astronauts Wrestle With Solar Panel

Astronauts Wrestle With Solar Panel

Damage on solar wings raises stakes on installation tomorrow

(Newser) - Astronauts continued work on the space station today, using a robot arm to move a huge 17.5-ton solar panel into position for installation during a spacewalk tomorrow—to some musical accompaniment. "It's a heck of a lot more fun flying the arm with some Huey Lewis in the...

Astronauts Find Station Damage
Astronauts Find Station Damage

Astronauts Find Station Damage

Metal shavings plague solar panel rotators

(Newser) - The International Space Station’s power system is damaged, astronauts discovered today on the second of five scheduled spacewalks. Investigating the vibrations and electrical spikes that have wracked the solar tower, they found metal shavings clinging to the rotating joint. "There’s metal-to-metal scraping, and it’s widespread,"...

Astronauts Link Harmony to ISS
Astronauts Link Harmony to ISS

Astronauts Link Harmony to ISS

'Great day in outer space' sums up lead spacewalker

(Newser) - Astronauts from the space shuttle Discovery today successfully attached the 16-ton Harmony addition to the International Space Station, expanding the station's living and working space by more than 2,500 cubic feet. The 6-hour project, moving the Harmony and retrieving a broken antenna from the station, was the first of...

Discovery Docks at Space Station
Discovery Docks at Space Station

Discovery Docks at Space Station

Shuttle crew readies outpost for European, Japanese arrivals

(Newser) - The shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station this morning, after a two-day journey from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Station commander Peggy Whitson rang a ship's bell to welcome the shuttle crew, which will over the next 10 days prepare the station for European and Japanese researchers, Reuters reports.

Discovery Blasts Off Safely
Discovery Blasts Off Safely

Discovery Blasts Off Safely

(Newser) - Despite dubious weather, ice buildup, and wing cracks, Discovery successfully launched from Cape Canaveral this morning. The spacecraft carries a crew of seven—including Pamela Melroy, only the second female shuttle commander—to a daunting construction job on the International Space Station, the AP reports. The "to do" list...

Launch Tomorrow a Go: NASA
Launch Tomorrow a Go: NASA

Launch Tomorrow a Go: NASA

Safety board concerns are an 'acceptable risk'

(Newser) - With one eye on potentially disastrous weather, NASA is preparing to launch its most ambitious space mission ever tomorrow, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The launch is a go despite an independent safety board's recommendation to delay because of hairline cracks in Discovery's wing panels. NASA says the cracks lie within...

After Sputnik: Satellites Today
After Sputnik: Satellites Today

After Sputnik: Satellites Today

Fifty years later, thousands of descendants have made a home in space

(Newser) - Satellites have lost a bit of their star power since Sputnik blasted into orbit. But 50 years later, its grandkids continue to look down at the Earth and out into deep, deep space. Here are some of the coolest, according to Wired:
  • James Webb Space Telescope: Putting the Hubble to
...

The Force Is With the Discovery
The Force Is With the Discovery

The Force Is With the Discovery

Lucasfilm loans original light saber to NASA for upcoming flight

(Newser) - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery will have a bit of extra protection on their next mission: Luke Skywalker's original light saber from 1977's Star Wars. Lucasfilm has loaned the prop—in real life not much more than a slick flashlight—to NASA for the shuttle's launch this October, reports...

Endeavour Returns Home
Endeavour Returns Home

Endeavour Returns Home

Shuttle touches down a day early to beat Hurricane Dean

(Newser) - Endeavour landed safely in Florida this afternoon, a day earlier than planned. Damage sustained during launch didn't affect the space shuttle's return from its 13-day mission, and neither did Hurricane Dean, CNN reports. "Welcome back. You give new meaning to the term 'higher education,' " Mission Control told...

Endeavour Heads Home, Dodging Dean
Endeavour Heads Home, Dodging Dean

Endeavour Heads Home, Dodging Dean

Hurricane threat to Mission Control lessens, but shuttle leaves early

(Newser) - To a chorus of ringing bells, space shuttle Endeavour undocked today from the international space station, skipping out a day early because of fears Hurricane Dean could disrupt its landing operations. Even though revised predictions show the storm poses almost no threat to Houston and Mission Control, the AP reports,...

Storm Forces Shuttle Home Early
Storm Forces Shuttle Home Early

Storm Forces Shuttle Home Early

Astronauts wrap up early to reach Houston before Hurricane Dean

(Newser) - NASA managers worried about the wrath of Hurricane Dean have ordered shuttle Endeavour home a day earlier than planned, the AP reports. Astronauts wrapped up a space walk today and prepared for a trip that would leave tomorrow and land in Houston on Tuesday. One astronaut clearly saw the hurricane’...

Endeavour May Not Need Repair
Endeavour May Not Need Repair

Endeavour May Not Need Repair

Shuttle should be able to return to Earth safely

(Newser) - Repairs to the damaged heat shield on the space shuttle Endeavor may not be needed before the shuttle's return to Earth, NASA says, based on the first set of tests, completed yesterday. Program managers say they are "cautiously optimistic" that business-card-sized gash in Endeavour's thermal tiles shouldn't pose a...

Astronauts Look at Endeavour's Tummy Trouble

NASA examines gouge as flying foam invokes memories of Columbia

(Newser) - Endeavor’s crew gave NASA a better look at a wound on the space shuttle’s belly today, CNN reports. Astronauts used a robotic arm to photograph the three-inch gouge on the shuttle’s heat shield, a ding caused by a flying piece of foam during liftoff. NASA hopes the...

NASA Eyes Endeavor Damage
NASA Eyes Endeavor Damage

NASA Eyes Endeavor Damage

Engineers say ice chunk hit shuttle's underbelly, could endanger re-entry

(Newser) - Endeavour's astronauts finished their first spacewalk today by installing a 2-ton beam on the back of the international space station, the AP reports. Meanwhile NASA engineers inspected troubling images of a gash in shuttle Endeavour’s heat shield caused, they believe, by an ice chunk that flew off the fuel...

Shuttle Docks With Space Station
Shuttle Docks With Space Station

Shuttle Docks With Space Station

Endeavour checked for foam damage, mission control not worried

(Newser) - Shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station today after executing an orbital flip to allow the exterior of the craft to be photographed and examined for any damage sustained during liftoff. Three foam chunks detached from the shuttle during launch, and although some damage remains possible, mission managers say...

Shuttle to Dock With Station
Shuttle to Dock With Station

Shuttle to Dock With Station

First, the station's camera will inspect Endeavour for damage

(Newser) - The crew of the Endeavour spent most of yesterday checking their vessel for damage from insulation that broke off the fuel tank during the launch; today they will dock the shuttle with the International Space Station. First, the shuttle will flip around in front of the ISS so that the...

First Teacher Rockets to Space
First Teacher Rockets to Space

First Teacher Rockets to Space

Endeavour launches without a hitch 21 years after McAuliffe tragedy

(Newser) - Former schoolteacher Barbara Morgan safely reached space last night when the shuttle Endeavour rocketed through a problem-free launch. Ten minutes after its evening blastoff, the shuttle was orbiting 140 miles above the Earth in preparation for docking with the International Space Station tomorrow. Morgan is the first astronaut teacher since...

US Teacher Headed for Space
US Teacher Headed
for Space

US Teacher Headed for Space

NASA readies educator 21 years after Challenger disaster

(Newser) - NASA is sending another schoolteacher into space, 21 years after the Challenger disaster killed educator Christa McAuliffe. Barbara Morgan, a former Idaho schoolteacher and now a fully trained astronaut, will spend most of the trip transferring cargo to the International Space Station and about six hours on educational pursuits. When...

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