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CAPE CANAVERAL (AFP) - The US space shuttle Discovery left orbit Saturday and began its descent towards Florida, NASA said.Earlier, mission control gave the shuttle, which is bringing seven astronauts back to Earth, the green light to land at the Kennedy Space Center at 1515 GMT.

It was a good mission and I'm glad to see the ISS is taking shape. As for the object, not a big deal. My advice for everyone here, before going crazy over something minor or if something goes wrong, listen to NASA, not the media.

Mission controllers at NASA are discussing a possible problem with space shuttle Discovery on Friday. Astronauts said they noticed a shiny, rectangular-shaped object trailing the shuttle after a rocket was fired. NASA officials said they're analyzing video and photos to determine if the part came from the shuttle or cargo bay. They're hoping to determine if it could pose a problem for the crew during the re-entry and landing on Saturday morning.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery performed a slow back flip and then docked at the international space station Monday, delivering a mammoth lab and two new occupants: a NASA astronaut and Buzz Lightyear. Commander Mark Kelly pulled up to the space station and parked as the two spacecraft soared 210 miles above the South Pacific. Discovery carried Japan's prized Kibo lab, a 37-foot-long, 16-ton scientific workshop. The seven shuttle astronauts and three station residents will combine forces to install the bus-size lab on Tuesday. The shuttle crew also brought a spare toilet pump for the orbiting outpost....

HOUSTON (AP) — Space shuttle Discovery's seven-member crew completed an inspection of the spacecraft's wings Sunday afternoon, looking for any signs of damage after launching a day earlier.Discovery, making its way to the international space station, is carrying the orbiting outpost's biggest room by far — Japan's $1 billion lab. The shuttle is also delivering a spare pump for the space station's malfunctioning toilet.But the inspection of the shuttle was not as thorough as it normally is because the school-bus-size lab, named Kibo — Japanese for hope — takes up almost the entire payload bay.That left no room for a...

This will be the official thread for the launching of the Space Shuttle Discovery..

Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Apr 17, 2008 The cargo aboard the space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124 already has traveled halfway around Earth, more than 10,000 miles over land and sea. It's now ready for the culmination of its 23-year journey to the International Space Station. Hope will take flight on Discovery. Or rather, the centerpiece of Kibo, a laboratory complex named for the Japanese word for hope, will take flight. STS-124 will launch the main segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's - or JAXA's - station laboratory. Kibo's Japanese Pressurized Module, or JPM, is 14.4 feet in diameter...

This will be the official thread for the landing of the Space Shuttle Discovery.. What a mission!!!!

With the Space Shuttle Discovery having successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) early Monday morning, skywatchers across much of the United States and southern Canada are now in for a real treat on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Weather permitting, there will be opportunities to see both the Discovery orbiter and the ISS independently flying across the sky from many locations. The sight should easily be visible to anyone, even from brightly lit cities. The appearance of either the space shuttle or the space station moving across the sky is not in itself unusual. On any clear morning within...

Physician-astronaut Scott Parazynski, working on the end of a boom carried by the space station's robot arm, successfully repaired a mangled solar array today, cutting away a snarled guidewire, installing five suture-like braces and then standing by while his crewmates extended the array its full 110-foot length. Working with deliberate care, astronaut Dan Tani, sending commands from a computer inside the shuttle-station complex, extended the array's central mast a half bay at a time, stopping and letting Parazynski assess the health of the repairs as tension slowly built up on the just-installed braces. There were no problems and as the...

The space shuttle Discovery, which rocketed into orbit Tuesday morning, is scheduled to dock with the international space station at 5:35 a.m. today, and the docked duo should be easily visible this evening if smoke from Southland fires does not obscure them. Discovery's mission, the 120th in the space shuttle program, is commanded by former Edwards Air Force Base test pilot Pam Melroy. The main goals of the mission are to add a module to the space station to expand living and working space and to relocate a set of solar arrays on the orbiting laboratory. The conjoined spacecraft, based...

This is going to the be the live thread for the Space Shuttle Discovery. The reason why I'm posting this now it is because I have to work tomorrow...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2007 – Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will become the second woman to command a NASA space shuttle flight when Discovery lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., tomorrow. Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy is the second woman to command a space shuttle mission. NASA photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The STS-120 flight is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, according NASA’s Web site. The mission will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station. The “Harmony” device will provide attachment points for European and Japanese laboratory...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A giant leap is about to be made for womankind. When space shuttle Discovery blasts off Tuesday, a woman will be sitting in the commander’s seat. And up at the international space station, a female skipper will be waiting to greet her. It will be the first time in the 50-year history of spaceflight that two women are in charge of two spacecraft at the same timeThis is no public relations gimmick cooked up by NASA. It’s coincidence, which pleases shuttle commander Pamela Melroy and station commander Peggy Whitson.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The next mission of the space shuttle Discovery set for liftoff Tuesday is critical to building the International Space Station, ferrying in the Harmony module key to installing the European lab Columbus and Japan's Kibo lab. Harmony, a big Italian-made aluminum tube weighing in at 14.3 tonnes, will connect the two labs to the outpost and give it its almost final shape. NASA plans to bring in the Columbus on an Atlantis shuttle flight December 6 and the Kibo early in 2008. Discovery's crew of seven includes five men and two women, one of whom is Commander...

NASA is racing the clock for a space shuttle flight — and desperately hoping it never gets off the ground. Not Endeavour — scheduled to lift off next week with a crew of seven, including schoolteacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan — but sister shuttle Discovery, which is being readied for launch at short notice. Discovery will mount a rescue mission if Endeavour flies into trouble and its crew has to be brought back. After Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in February 2003, scientists developed several methods for repairing stricken shuttles. These include wing sensors to detect impacts, a redesigned fuel...

When Mark Polansky reaches space, he'll have brought a little piece of Jersey with him. The astronaut is scheduled to lift off tonight from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. He is commanding the STS-116 mission to the International Space Station. But his journey began as a boy growing up by Roosevelt Park in North Edison, a pharmacist's son who devoured books on science, was glued to the television for all the early space launches and pretended a cardboard box was a spaceship. "I loved geography. I loved the idea of exploring," Polansky said. "I figured...

This is will be the official thread for the Space Shuttle Discovery landing at KSC or either at Edwards or White Sands.

For the first time in more than five years, members of the general public may have the opportunity to watch a space shuttle landing in person at Edwards Air Force Base. The base, the primary backup landing site for the shuttle, will open its gates Friday to view the return of Discovery, if conditions prevent using the main landing site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Due to limited supplies on board Discovery, and a worsening weather forecast for Saturday, shuttle officials are pushing for a Friday landing. Because the landing site decision will not be made until 60 to...

The decision earlier this week to add a spacewalk to Discovery's mission and still preserve a final heat shield inspection today forced NASA managers to delay re-entry one day to Friday and in so doing, give up one of three end-of-mission landing opportunities. With only two available landing days - Friday and Saturday - NASA flight rules require a landing attempt Friday, even if that means diverting the shuttle to California or New Mexico. The latter option is a worst-case scenario that could expose the orbiter to sub-freezing weather for two days, possibly damaging thruster seals and water lines, and...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Fresh from the success of an impromptu spacewalk, shuttle Discovery's astronauts awoke Tuesday to the strains of "Zamboni" by the Gear Daddies and got ready to undock from the international space station. "We can't offer you a Zamboni to drive today," said Mission Control astronaut Shannon Lucid, referring to the ice rink machine immortalized in the Minnesota band's country rock song. "But if you look at today's flight plan, you will see that we are offering you the opportunity to fly the shuttle for half a lap flyaround. That's not a bad tradeoff." Space shuttle Discovery's...

Will the Shuttle go or not... It all depends on the weather...

Dec. 11, 2006 — - Moving ever so slowly -- albeit at 17,200 miles an hour relative to Earth's surface -- the astronauts of Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station, 200 miles out in space. Having made the first night launch since the Columbia accident in 2003, the astronauts also had no problem approaching the giant station as they passed over the night side of Earth. "Houston, Discovery," radioed the shuttle crew, "no trim required, we're initiating final approach." A Tenth of a Foot Per Second The shuttle's commander, astronaut Mark Polansky, slowed his approach to less...

This is the official live thread for the Space Shuttle Discoery launch thread.. Weather permitting of course...

HOUSTON -- All their assigned duties were completed and final precautionary tests had turned up no problems Sunday, leaving weather the only question facing the astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery as they looked forward to a return to Earth. Mission Control on Sunday gave the shuttle crew permission to try for a landing Monday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, clearing all lingering technical questions on the shuttle heat shield and the system that provides hydraulic power for landing. "We feel very confident that Discovery is safe to come home," landing director Steve Stich said in a news...

This is will be the live thread for the Space Shuttle Discovery Landing (weather permitting that is).

The Talk Shows Sunday, July 16th, 2006 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and George Allen, R-Va.; Philippe Cousteau, president of Earth Echo International.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; columnist Robert Novak. FACE THE NATION (CBS): Rice; Richard Haass, Council on Foreign Relations president; Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif. THIS WEEK (ABC): Rice; Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state; Kerri Strug, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.LATE EDITION (CNN) : White House counselor Dan Bartlett; Israeli Vice...

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery prepared to leave the International Space Station on Friday while ground control teams revamped landing plans to handle a small leak in one of the ship's power generators. Managers believe the leak is inconsequential but because there is not enough proof, they are proceeding cautiously. [snip] The shuttle has three power units needed to move the body flaps, speed brakes and other critical landing gear. It can safely land with just one, though two or more make for greater control, Shannon said. One unit has a tiny leak, about six drops per hour,...

For San Diego area, looks like it may pass right in front of Jupiter if we are lucky.. http://www.heavens-above.com/PassDetails.asp?SatID=25544&lat=32.7921&lng=-117.1211&alt=100&loc=San+Diego+Marathon&TZ=PST&Date=38908.1442576723 Put in city here to see if you can see them pass over....... http://www.heavens-above.com/selecttown.asp?CountryID=US&lat=0&lng=0&alt=0&loc=Unspecified&TZ=CET

Get a load of these pics!

Astronauts begin first spacewalk on ISS CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Astronauts Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum climbed out of an airlock on the international space station Saturday, starting a spacewalk to fix the complex's rail transporter and test whether a boom can be used to make repairs to the space shuttle. The 6 1/2-hour jaunt, which began as the space station passed over Asia 220 miles below, was to be the first spacewalk for Fossum and the fourth for Sellers

The docked Space Shuttle and International Space Station will be visible from Southern California tonight from 850pm to 853pm. Look for a slow moving white light above the Moon and Venus in the northwest.

Up to six pieces of debris that could be foam insulation fell off Discovery's troublesome external fuel tank minutes after liftoff Tuesday, a top NASA official said. Officials cautioned, however, that it was too soon to know whether the debris struck Discovery and that the pieces came off later than would normally endanger the shuttle. Columbia's demise in February 2003 was caused by foam insulation that peeled off 70 seconds after liftoff and struck its heat shield. "About two minutes and 47 seconds give or take (after the Discovery launch), we saw three perhaps four pieces come off (the fuel...

Up to five pieces of debris that could be foam insulation fell off the space shuttle Discovery's troublesome external fuel tank shortly after lift-off, according to NASA. The shuttle blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 19.38 BST. About three minutes later, three or four pieces of debris were seen flying off the fuel tank, and another popping off a bit later, said shuttle programme manager Wayne Hale. Discovery was so high by then that there wasn't enough air to accelerate the pieces into the shuttle and cause damage, he said. "That is the very raw,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Discovery's astronauts strapped into their seats Tuesday and the hatch was sealed in preparation for NASA's first Independence Day shuttle liftoff. After two weather delays and a debate over safety when a crack appeared in the fuel tank's insulation, officials decided the launch was a go. "Steve, happy Fourth of July!" a launch controller told Steve Lindsey, Discovery's commander. The six U.S. astronauts waved small American flags, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter gripped a tiny German banner, as they walked toward the launch pad to enter the shuttle. Astronaut Mike Fossum gave a thumbs...

NASA's Space Shuttle Tracking Page It's taking a LOOONG time to load...but it's pretty cute with the little shuttle!

Third time the charm?

NASA gave the green light Monday night for a Fourth of July shuttle liftoff despite worries about a piece of foam that popped off Discovery's external fuel tank while the spacecraft sat on the launch pad. The decision was sure to stir more debate about whether the space agency was putting its flight schedule ahead of safety. The 3-inch triangular piece of foam that appeared to come from a 5- inch-long crack late Sunday or early Monday is far smaller than the foam chunk that brought down Columbia, killing seven astronauts in But NASA managers spent most of Monday...

Engineers inspecting the shuttle Discovery's external tank following Sunday's launch scrub found a crack in the tank's foam insulation near a bracket holding a 17-inch oxygen feed line in place. Some engineers believe the crack must be repaired but senior managers say a variety of options are on the table, from fly as is to making repairs. As of this writing, no decisions have been made about how to proceed and it's not known what impact the work might have on plans to make a third attempt to launch Discovery Tuesday. Engineers also found a small piece of foam insulation...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- Engineers on Monday are closely scrutinizing a small crack in insulation on space shuttle's fuel tank as NASA continues to prepare for a Tuesday launch. NASA deputy manager John Shannon said foam that cracked covers a bracket that connects the liquid oxygen feedline to shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. When engineers went to inspect it, they pinched off a .0057-pound, 3- inch piece of foam. Even so, Shannon said, had that piece fallen off during launch it wouldn't have damaged the orbiter. The crack was discovered during an inspection Sunday evening, and is 4-...

Key NASA officials who oversee the agency said they don't believe the shuttle is safe for launch, according to a Local 6 News report. E-mails sent to NASA's administrator from the agency's inspector general's office obtained by the Orlando Sentinel said they didn't believe shuttle Discovery should launch without more work to prevent foam insulation from breaking off the external fuel tank. NASA already had a "no go" for flight from the agency's top safety official and chief engineer. However, NASA managers went ahead and gave the "go for launch" for Saturday. Meanwhile, NASA declined Thursday to release documents from...

L-1 Morning Briefing At this morning's Countdown Status Briefing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding said, "we're tracking no issues at all that would affect Saturday's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery." Pre-launch preparations are continuing on schedule. Work on final pad closeouts will continue throughout the remainder of the night in anticipation of external tank loading at approximately 6 a.m. There will be two attempts at launch, Saturday and Sunday and then a stand down-on Monday. Two more attempts can then be made on Tuesday and Wednesday before another stand-down to reservice the on board...

US Vice President Dick Cheney will attend Saturday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral, Florida, his office said Thursday. "Vice President Cheney and Mrs Cheney are thrilled to attend the launch of the space shuttle Discovery on Saturday," said spokeswoman Jennifer Mayfield. "It's a perfect way to spend the Independence Day weekend."

NASA plans to change the space shuttle's external fuel tank again, this time removing a troublesome section of protective foam that broke off during the launch of Discovery last July, the space agency said Thursday. The removal of more foam from the tank and further testing to find the root cause of cracks in the foam could lead to a longer delay until the next shuttle flight, tentatively set for May. But NASA official Bill Gerstenmaier, who is leading the investigation into the foam loss, said that's not necessarily the case. The targeted foam section protects a cable tray that...

Trouble in July a result of problems that also triggered Columbia tragedy, engineers say NASA officials announced Friday they will aim for a May launch of the next shuttle mission after investigators blamed application problems for the potentially deadly foam insulation loss that accompanied Discovery's late July liftoff. The shuttle fleet was grounded by the unexpected shedding of fuel tank insulation as the spacecraft lifted off July 26 on the first mission since the fatal 2003 Columbia accident. Space agency officials outlined a recovery strategy on Friday as an internal engineering team said the foam was most likely loosened by...

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The space shuttle Discovery began the return journey to its Florida home port from its landing site in California on Friday, riding piggyback on top of a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Discovery on Aug. 9 completed NASA’s first shuttle mission since its sister ship, Columbia, blew apart over Texas in February 2003, but had to land at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert because of thunderstorms at Cape Canaveral. NASA prefers to use its main landing site in Florida to save time and the roughly $1 million it costs to prepare...

DWARDS AIR FORCE BASE – Space shuttle Discovery is tentatively scheduled to leave California on Friday, more than a week after it was diverted to the Mojave Desert in the first shuttle flight since the Columbia accident. Discovery's cross-country ferry to Cape Canaveral, Fla., expected to cost at least $1 million, has been postponed twice – first because of Monday's thunderstorms, then because of problems Wednesday in trying to attach a 10,000-pound aluminum tail cone to the shuttle to eliminate drag during flight.

Like millions of other Americans, i was happy to see the space shuttle make a safe landing at Edwards AFB this morning. For the past few days I was wondering if I would awake to see W. eulogizing the Discovery crew. The space shuttles were an amazing part of our history of manned space flight. They were conceived during the cold war and embarrassed the Russians who quickly threw together the Buran, a shuttle look-alike. The shuttles have been updated with more and better avionics and computers, but the problem still remains-going to space is risky business.

With Discovery parked safely on the tarmac in California, the fate of the nation's manned space program now rests on the research teams assigned by NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin to figure out why at least four large pieces of insulating foam broke away from the shuttle's enormous external fuel tank. The teams, composed of engineers from NASA and Lockheed Martin's Michoud assembly facility in Louisiana, where the tanks are manufactured, were scheduled to give a preliminary report yesterday to Griffin and space station manager William H. Gerstenmaier. NASA has promised a fully "transparent" investigation, and initial findings may be...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) -NASA rejected two chances to land the space shuttle Discovery in Florida on Tuesday because of bad weather, making California the likely landing spot for the first shuttle flight since the 2003 Columbia disaster.Four times in two days NASA flight managers opted out of chances to end Discovery's 14-day mission at its home port, the Kennedy Space Center, because clouds and rain loomed too close to the landing strip.The shuttle was likely to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, where the first opportunity was at 8:12 a.m. EDT (1212 GMT)."How do you...