STS-123

Stories

18 Stories

March 2008
- Shuttle Returns to Earth
  
  Associated Press | Mar 26, 08 7:57 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The space shuttle Endeavour returned to Earth with a rare night landing to wrap up an ambitious mission to the International Space Station, the AP reports. The shuttle had to land in darkness after NASA called off an earlier attempt because of cloud cover. Astronauts blasted off 16 days ago, delivering a 12-foot robot to the space station and installing the first portion of a Japanese laboratory. More »
- Endeavour Heads Home
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 25, 08 3:39 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The space shuttle Endeavour has begun its two-day trip back to Earth after successfully undocking yesterday from the international space station, reports the Houston Chronicle . The seven astronauts on board hailed an "awesome" mission and said fond farewells to their colleagues staying behind. A glitch unlatching a solar panel delayed Endeavour's retreat from the station. More »
- Shuttle Prepares to Quit Station
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 24, 08 6:19 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The crew of shuttle Endeavour prepared to undock from the International Space Station today after a leisurely Easter Sunday spent off-loading cargo, enjoying a holiday meal, and talking to family back home. The shuttle commander compared the flurry of work to wrap up the record-setting mission to March Madness: "It's wonderful to be in the tournament. We've won five games," said Dom Gorie, referring to the crew's five spacewalks. More »
- Endeavour Crew Finishes Final Walk
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 22, 08 6:49 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A pair of Endeavour astronauts completed the last spacewalk of their historic assembly mission tonight, the Houston Chronicle reports. Over 6 hours, Mike Forman and Bob Behnken set up an inspection boom outside the International Space Station to help future shuttles avoid disasters like the 2003 Columbia tragedy. The boom scans thermal armor for damage that shuttles may sustain in the nose and wings after launch. More »
- Spacewalking Astronauts Test Repair Goo
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 21, 08 12:31 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Spacewalking astronauts successfully tested a high-tech goo that can be used to repair heat shields and help avert a repeat of the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster, the Houston Chronicle reports. In work reminiscent of a “tile-and-grout” job, astronauts sprayed the pink caulk onto shuttle sections that were purposely damaged. “Having this in our bag of tricks is really going to be helpful," said one of the astronauts. More »
- Dextre Moves Into Place, Awaits First Call
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 19, 08 5:10 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The giant space robot Dextre moved into his new digs last night, and now resides outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab awaiting his first marching orders. Back at Mission Control the mood is buoyant, reports the Houston Chronicle. "That really was the kind of spacewalk that when it's done, you just want to throw your hands up in the air and howl at the moon," said the project's director after the robot was in place. More »
- Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go
  
  Space.com | Mar 18, 08 8:33 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dextre, the colossal space robot, is ready to go and awaiting instructions after astronauts successfully fitted the 12-foot helper with a tool kit and cameras for "eyes" last night, Space.com reports. Dextre is set to take up residence outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab later today and will undergo tests before it is asked to perform major tasks. More »
- Dextre Stretches His Limbs
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 17, 08 10:30 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dextre, the International Space Station’s own gigantic space robot, flexed its mighty arms for the first time last night, the Houston Chronicle reports. Astronauts put the bot through its paces, moving and stopping each of its 14 arm joints. Dextre mostly passed the test; every joint moved perfectly save one, which took longer to brake than expected. More »
- Spacewalkers Give Dextre Arms
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 16, 08 7:31 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dextre the space robot now has arms. Astronauts attached them in an overnight spacewalk outside the International Space Station, the second of three that will be needed to bring the $209 million robot fully to life, the Houston Chronicle reports. On Monday, astronauts will give Dextre a tool belt, lights, and cameras, and he'll be ready to go. More »
- Dextre Lives! Space Robot Gets Power
  
  Associated Press | Mar 15, 08 1:46 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Dextre's finally getting some juice. Astronauts aboard the international space station solved a glitch last night and got power flowing to their partially built robot, the AP reports. Now they can go ahead with a spacewalk tonight to finish assembling it. “There was obviously some real concern over the last day or two for getting that powered up,” said one official. More »
- Space Robot Taking Shape
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 14, 08 9:11 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Astronauts began assembling a 12-foot robot named Dextre last night outside the international space station. The overnight spacewalking mission hit a slight glitch when the robot failed to power up, but NASA officials expect to resolve it soon, the Houston Chronicle reports. Spacewalks on Saturday and Monday will be needed to finish Dextre, who will then take over much of the space station's construction. More »
- Endeavour Docks After New Damage Check
  
  Associated Press | Mar 13, 08 3:45 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Endeavour docked with the international space station without a glitch yesterday just after the shuttle was again examined for damage, AP reports. The craft did a full backflip before docking so every inch of it could be inspected. Launch videos first revealed that something may have hit the shuttle's nose seconds after lift off. More »
- Shuttle Safe, Mission On
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 12, 08 4:07 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The crew of the space shuttle Endeavour is on course to dock with the international space station with apparently no damage to the heat shield during takeoff, the Houston Chronicle reports. Tracking cameras indicated possible debris near the shuttle just after launch that may have struck near the ship's nose. Detailed inspections have become routine on missions since the loss of the Columbia in 2003. The shuttle is delivering a robot repairman and a Japanese space lab. More »
- Endeavour Blasts Into Space
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 11, 08 6:30 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The shuttle Endeavour thundered off its launch pad early this morning, carrying seven astronauts and two major pieces of hardware to the International Space Station. On board is a $1 billion science module that contains research gear for the station's lab, the first Japanese contribution to the orbital base, reports the Houston Chronicle . Also accompanying the astronauts is a 12-foot, spacewalking Canadian robot bearing the name Dextre. More »
- Shuttle to Launch Giant Robot Into Space
  
  Houston Chronicle | Mar 10, 08 2:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - When the shuttle Endeavour launches at 2:28am tomorrow, it will carry what has been pure sci-fi until now: a giant space robot. After astronauts assemble it, Canada’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, known as “Dextre,” will roam the outside of the International Space Station completing repairs considered too dangerous for spacewalkers, the Houston Chronicle reports. More »
- Space Truck Shoots Into Orbit
  
  BBC | Mar 9, 08 11:42 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Europe's first automated cargo ship blasted off from the South American jungle early today, headed for a rendezvous with the International Space Station, the BBC reports. The craft—the biggest and most complex that Europe has ever launched—will deliver food, water, pressurized air, fuel, and personal items to the ISS crew and remove garbage. More »
- Europe to Launch Space Truck
  
  BBC | Mar 8, 08 3:20 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Europe is about to launch its most sophisticated spacecraft ever, the BBC reports. The “Jules Verne,” set to take off tomorrow, will deliver supplies to the International Space Station while nudging the station higher into its orbit to prevent it from falling to Earth. The freighter is fully automated—no humans aboard—marking a major step toward manned European missions. More »
- Astronauts Will Have to Hitch Rides With the Russians
  
  Washington Post | Mar 7, 08 2:04 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - When NASA retires its fleet of space shuttles in 2010, the agency will have no way of sending men into space until 2015, at the earliest, the Washington Post reports. To carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station, largely funded by American taxpayers, the US will have to rely on the only other country that can send men into space: Russia. And we'll have to pay for the privilege. More »