Space Shuttle | Universe Today

This is something I can stomach when considering the launch of an unmanned robotic mission into space. It seems obvious that there should be a "flight termination" switch, especially when considering the damage a malfunctioning rocket could do to populated areas. If mission controllers see the rocket veer off course, they can make a quick and decisive action to blow the launch vehicle, and everything on it, out of the sky. But what about Space Shuttle launches? Surely they don't have a flight termination option too, do they? Well, yes, they do actually. Welcome to the worst job in NASA: launch safety officer.
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On Tuesday, to help out with the 50-year anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, clips from 100 hours of restored archive footage of NASA missions were made public. At the screening, John Glenn, America's first astronaut to orbit the Earth, watched the clips and had time to reminisce over the administration's "Glory Years". He also had a very strong message for the policy makers: Extend the Shuttle program and re-commit to a long-term investment in the International Space Station. As a former Marine, Mercury astronaut, pilot and US senator, that's a hard message to ignore…
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Space shuttle Discovery now sits majestically out on launch pad 39A, preparing for the upcoming STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. With the shuttle program slated to terminate in 2010, there's a limited amount of times we'll see that sight again: a space shuttle will crawl out to the pad only 10 more times –or possibly only 9 more. And whether that thought chokes you up a bit, or evokes a shout of "It's about time!" here's a quick look at the remaining shuttle missions and what each will accomplish. All dates and personnel are subject to change.
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The Russian Soyuz re-entry capsule, carrying the first South Korean astronaut back to Earth, suffered a "ballistic re-entry" on Saturday, putting the capsule 400 km (250 miles) off-target. This is the second time in a row that the return vessel has landed off course; even officials were shocked about this inaccuracy. The astronauts endured forces of up to 10-G as the capsule took a very steep trajectory as it dropped through the atmosphere for three and half hours. Fortunately the three crew members are safe and well. What's the explanation for the mishap? An unauthorized change to the flight plan and an old naval superstition…
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The images coming down from the STS-123 mission have been nothing short of spectacular. The pictures have included amazing EVA shots, images of the astronauts hard at work (and having fun, too) and stunning photos of the ever-growing International Space Station. Here are just a few of the latest images from the mission, and they're all so great, I've decided to give each one an award. This one gets the award for Best Group Photo Ever of the Shuttle, ISS and Earth. On Monday, shuttle Endeavour undocked from the ISS, and after the obligatory fly-around, the astronauts snapped this picture as the shuttle separated from the station. In my mind, this is one of the most amazing images from space ever. And there's more….
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Two astronauts tested a special applicator and “goo” to see how well techniques developed for repairing damaged shuttle tiles work in orbit. Shuttle astronauts Mike Foreman and Bob Behnken used a T-RAD, or Tile Ablator Dispenser to squirt a pink, caulk-like substance called Shuttle Tile Ablator-54 into intentionally damaged shuttle tiles during their six and a half hour spacewalk to test how the tool and material behaves in the weightless vacuum of space. "I'm thrilled with what we saw today," said ISS flight director Dana Weigel after the spacewalk, adding that T-RAD could also be used to mend torn shuttle insulation blankets. "It behaved very similar to what we saw on the ground, so that gives me a lot of confidence."
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Take a look at this amazing video shot from the cameras located on the solid rocket boosters on space shuttle Endeavour's recent launch. The fact it was a night launch really highlights all the flames and sparking. Most interesting, however, is that during the first two and a half minutes of acsent while the SRB's are attached, the leading edges of the shuttle's wings are fully visible. I know hindsight is 20/20, but if these cameras had only been in place for Columbia's last launch….

But we're learning from experience. These cameras not only give engineers good information and views of the shuttle's thermal protection system, but they provide some spectacular footage for us all to enjoy.

Video Source: Reel NASA

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There have been some outstanding images coming in from the current space shuttle mission at the International Space Station. The crews of Endeavour and the ISS continue their near-frantic pace of spacewalks and outfitting of the station during the STS-123 mission. During the 3rd spacewalk, astronauts Rick Linnehan (right) and Bob Behnken work on the new Dextre, also known as the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM). This image highlights how big the station is getting, as the astronauts are almost dwarfted by this one area of the truss section.
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This is hilarious. You know how NASA beams up a morning wakeup song to the shuttle astronauts on every mission. They decided to go with a giant radioactive lizard theme song for Day 3 of the mission. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Astronaut Mission Specialist Takao Doi, and the rest of the astronauts were awoken on Day 3 by this terrifying monster attack on Tokyo.

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Whenever we report on the launch of the shuttle, the video footage and pictures come directly from NASA. That's great, for high resolution, and all. Don't worry, we'll be burying you with it over the course of STS-123. But I think there's something missing from it. The exhilaration (I can only assume) that comes when you watch a shuttle actually take off.

So, I'm going to show you a few videos of the shuttle's night launch captured at parties at homes near the Cape. It's not as good quality as NASA might provide. But there an emotional impact from the people in the room that more than offsets this. You lucky, lucky people.
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With a spectacular and rare nighttime launch, space shuttle Endeavour lit up the dark sky and rocketed flawlessly to orbit. The shuttle launched at 2:28 am EST to begin its chase of the International Space Station. During the planned 16-day mission, the crew's two prime objectives are to deliver and attach to the ISS the first component of Japan's new laboratory called Kibo, as well as Canada's new robotics system, the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre. STS-123 is the 25th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
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We haven't had time to catch our breath after STS-122 touched down on February 20th, only nine days ago, and yet the next launch date to the International Space Station (ISS) has been announced today. The date? March 11th - only 11 days from now. This time NASA has put together a nice little interactive gadget so you can see the 17 day mission from day to day…
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Welcome home to the crew of STS-122! Space shuttle Atlantis landed at 9:08 am EST on February 20, following the STS-122 mission to install the European Space Agency's Columbus science module on the International Space Station. After such a successful mission, its now time to sit back and enjoy some of our favorite images from Atlantis' journey to the ISS.

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After a successful visit to the International Space Station, the crew of space shuttle Atlantis said farewell and undocked from the station at 4:24 am EST Monday morning. Their busy nine-day stay included three spacewalks and the installation of the European Columbus science module, as well as a switch-out in crew. European astronaut Leopold Eyharts stays on the ISS while US astronaut Dan Tani returns home after a four-month expedition on the station.
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You wouldn't think espionage would have much of a place here in Universe Today, but you'd be wrong. Four people in the US were arrested recently, accused of selling selling secrets to the Chinese. And what were they selling? Details about the space shuttle and other US aerospace programs.
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The ESA Columbus module is now attached to the Harmony module on the International Space Station after a successful spacewalk by Space Shuttle Atlantis crew members Stan Love and Rex Walheim. Although Columbus installation was postponed for a day, today's (Monday) spacewalk was completed in 7-hours and 58-minutes, concluding at 5:11pm EST.
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In a superb video released by NASA, the Space Shuttle Atlantis' 360 degree pitch maneuver is captured prior to docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday. Atlantis' mission to the station is to deliver and install the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus science laboratory to the station tomorrow (Monday) despite the first spacewalk being postponed due to an undisclosed medical problem with one of the STS-122 astronauts, Hans Schlegel.
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A medical issue with a member of the space shuttle crew has forced a change in personnel for the first scheduled spacewalk of the STS-122 shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The switch has also mandated that the spacewalk be delayed one day to Monday. NASA officials would not say which astronaut was experiencing any medical problems, but did confirm that Stan Love has replaced Hans Schlegel for the initial spacewalk.
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Defying a bleak weather forecast, space shuttle Atlantis rocketed into space on Thursday, February 7, on its way to the International Space Station with a new science laboratory. The STS-122 mission had been delayed by a faulty fuel sensor, and was originally scheduled to launch last December. But today there were no problems with the sensor during fueling and the shuttle lifted off flawlessly at 2:45 p.m. EST. On board is a seven member crew and the European Space Agency's $1.9 billion Columbus science module, Europe’s main contribution to the ISS. Atlantis will rendezvous with the station on Saturday, Feb. 9. The launch came seven years to the day after Atlantis carried NASA’s science laboratory named Destiny to the space station.
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People in the southeast United States are cleaning up from a powerful weather front that unleashed a series of devastating tornadoes across the landscape. At least 48 people are dead, and hundreds more are injured. And as you can probably guess, this weather could have an impact on tomorrow's launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.
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On Wednesday I reported that NASA was looking into a bent coolant hose on the space shuttle Atlantis. They weren't sure if this might cause a potential launch delay while it was repaired. Shuttle managers met over the weekend, and decided that it wasn't enough of a problem to delay the launch.
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After more than a month's delays, the space shuttle Atlantis is finally ready to head back into space. NASA managers announced that they've targeted the shuttle for launch on February 7th, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. EST.

There's one last little problem, though. Engineers inspecting the shuttle on Tuesday noticed a bent hose in its radiator cooling system. The hose runs from the shuttle body to the radiator panels on the cargo bay doors. It carries Freon to keep the shuttle's systems cool in space.
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NASA officials are hoping that the repairs to space shuttle Atlantis’ fuel sensor system will be completed in time for a January 24 launch date for the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. But in a January 3rd press briefing, John Shannon, deputy manager of the shuttle program told reporters that a February 2nd or 7th launch date is more probable given the testing and the work required.
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NASA engineers continue to repair a faulty electrical connector on Space Shuttle Atlantis’ external fuel tank which has delayed the launch of the STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. An update of the progress on that work will be presented at a mission management team meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 3 and mission managers will perhaps then be prepared to announce a proposed launch date for Atlantis.
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Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the International Space Station has been further delayed and now is targeted to launch no earlier than Jan. 2. The liftoff date hinges on the resolution of a repeat failure of the shuttle’s fuel sensor system. NASA has not yet made a final decision if repairs to the system will be done on the launch pad or if Atlantis will need to be rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building where the external tank can be removed.
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