A small science probe blazed through the salmon-colored skies of Mars on Sunday, touching down on a frozen desert at the planet’s north pole to search for water and assess conditions for sustaining life, Nasa officials said. It marked the first time that a spacecraft had successfully landed at one of the planet’s polar regions.
Spacewalking astronauts stashed an inspection boom to the outside of the International Space Station on Saturday to assure the next shuttle crew can scrutinise their ship for damage. Latching the boom to the outside of the station was the primary task of the fifth and final spacewalk conducted by the Endeavour crew.
The United States space shuttle Endeavour blasted off from a seaside Florida launch pad on Tuesday to deliver part of a long-awaited Japanese space laboratory to the International Space Station. Piercing the still of night with a thunderous boom and a flash of white-hot flame, the spaceship lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre at 2.28am local time.
No image available
/ 9 December 2007
Nasa cancelled its second launch attempt of space shuttle Atlantis after a sensor in an emergency engine cutoff system failed again on Sunday, once more delaying Europe’s major contribution to the International Space Station. Atlantis and its seven astronauts are due to deliver Europe’s Columbus science laboratory module to the space station.
No image available
/ 6 December 2007
Nasa postponed the launch, scheduled for Thursday, of the United States space shuttle Atlantis after discovering a problem with a sensor in the spacecraft’s fuel tank, officials said. The US space agency planned to try again on Friday to launch Europe’s long-delayed Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station.
No image available
/ 23 October 2007
The United States space shuttle Discovery blasted off on a pillar of fire on Tuesday, soaring above Florida marshlands toward a rendezvous in two days with the International Space Station. Discovery‘s 14-day mission kicks off a two-month refurbishment of the -billion outpost that prepares the way for Europe’s first permanent laboratory in orbit.
No image available
/ 13 September 2007
Web search leader Google will sponsor a -million competition for an unmanned lunar landing, following up on the -million Ansari X Prize that spurred a private sector race to space. The Google Lunar X Prize is open to private industry and non-government entities worldwide, organisers said on Thursday.
Space shuttle Endeavour returned to its Florida home port on Tuesday, touching down safely at the Kennedy Space Centre following a hectic but successful 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Commander Scott Kelly gently steered the 100-tonne spaceship through breezy, blue skies before nosing Endeavour down on to a 4,8km runway.
Nasa managers on Monday cleared space shuttle Endeavour and seven astronauts, including a former school teacher who trained with the ill-fated Challenger crew, for launch on Wednesday. The crew plans to spend seven to 10 days at the International Space Station, which is a little more than half finished.
An unmanned Delta rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station early on Saturday, sending a water-analysing science probe on its way to Mars. The Phoenix spacecraft, which lifted off at 9.26am GMT, is expected to reach the northern polar region of Mars on May 25.