Atlantis Heads Home

Space shuttle, 7 astronauts return after Fla. weather forces change of plans

(NEWSER) - The Atlantis space shuttle landed in California this afternoon, touching down at Edwards Air Force Base after weather forced a 1-day delay and a detour from Florida. The craft's signature twin sonic booms reverberated from San Diego to Los Angeles before the shuttle glided to a stop in the Mojave Desert, returning from its 2-week mission with seven astronauts aboard. More»

Landing clears way for military to shoot down satellite

(NEWSER) - Space shuttle Atlantis landed safely at Kennedy Space Center this morning, capping a successful 13-day mission in which it delivered Europe's first permanent lab to the International Space Station after months of delay, reports Space.com. The shuttle's return clears the way for the US Navy to shoot down a dying satellite headed toward Earth, possibly as soon as tonight. More»

Columbia disaster sparked changes in NASA procedures

(NEWSER) - The space shuttle Discovery will fly across the US tomorrow before landing in Cape Canaveral, a feat NASA hasn’t attempted since the doomed shuttle Columbia rained debris over the country in 2003. New safety procedures have minimized the risk of another disaster, ABC News reports. People below may see the shuttle and will definitely hear its double sonic boom. More»

(NEWSER) - The Atlantis docked with the international space station today, bringing with it a segment to be added to the station and the newest member of its crew. The arrival was marred by concern about a piece of thermal blanket on the shuttle that peeled back during launch; ground control is trying to decide if it needs to be repaired before the Atlantis returns. More»

Space shuttle safely wraps up mission after 2 weeks, 3 spacewalks

(NEWSER) - The first of the space shuttle program's final five missions ended without a hitch tonight as Endeavour landed at Cape Canaveral, beating bad weather forecast for the Florida coast. "Houston, it is great to be home," the mission commander said after returning from the International Space Station on the first shuttle mission of the year. "It was a great adventure." More»