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Space


July 2006 Space News

  • Off-nominal work likely cause for Russian carrier rocket crash RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2006 -- All preliminary versions of a Russian carrier rocket crash Thursday morning are linked with the off-nominal work of the carrier's components produced in Ukraine, the press secretary of the Federal Space Agency said Sunday.
  • Methane Lakes Dot Surface of Saturn's Moon Washington File 28 Jul 2006 -- The Cassini spacecraft has detected lakes on Saturn's moon Titan, and in doing so, identified the apparent source of the hydrocarbons in the Titan's atmosphere.
  • ESA Astronaut Thomas Reiter's 3 August Spacewalk ESA 28 Jul 2006 -- On 3 August, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter will step out of the ISS.
  • ISS Crew Prepares for Spacewalk NASA 28 Jul 2006 -- The International Space Station's Expedition 13 crew members are a week away from their first U.S. spacewalk.
  • Cassini Finds Lakes on Titan's Arctic Region NASA 28 Jul 2006 -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found lakes on Saturn's moon Titan.
  • Russian rocket with S.Korean satellite launched RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2006 -- A Russian rocket carrier rocket with a South Korean satellite was launched from a site in northern Russia Friday, the space agency said.
  • Boeing Completes Critical Wideband Gapfiller Satellite Ground Compatibility Tests Boeing 27 Jul 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced its Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) program has successfully completed two more key space-to-ground compatibility tests with partners Universal Space Network (USN) and ITT Industries. The joint tests, conducted at the Boeing Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, Calif., proved the interoperability between the satellite and two key ground control systems used during orbital operations.
  • Russia set to orbit South Korean satellite July 28 RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2006 --Russia plans to launch a South Korean satellite on July 28 from a site in northern Russia, a company in charge of the launch said Thursday.
  • Engine shutdown caused Russian rocket crash - space agency RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2006 -- The crash of a Russian carrier rocket in Kazakhstan shortly after a liftoff from the Baikonur space center occurred due to a first stage engine shutdown, the space agency said Thursday.
  • Russian carrier rocket crashes after Baikonur launch RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2006 -- A Russian carrier rocket with 18 mini-satellites on board has crashed in a remote area of Kazakhstan shortly after a lift off from the Baikonur space center, a Mission Control Center said Thursday.
  • Republic of China's Test Firings of Patriot Air and Missile Defense System a Success Raytheon 26 Jul 2006 -- The Republic of China (ROC) successfully destroyed two surrogate ballistic missiles with the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System during the Han Kuang military exercises conducted near Ilan in the northeast region of Taiwan. The successful firings, using Patriot Guidance Enhancement Missiles (GEM), reinforced the ROC air force's ability to conduct a live fire exercise in a tactical environment against a realistic threat.
  • Orbital And Rocketplane Kistler Announce Strategic Relashionship Orbital Sciences Corp. 24 Jul 2006 -- Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) and Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that they have entered into a strategic relationship to support the NASA COTS program and other applications of RpK's innovative space transportation system.
  • Raytheon Achieves Successful Early NPOESS Data Transfer Testing Raytheon 24 Jul 2006 -- Raytheon Company and NASA successfully achieved early National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) data transfer and system compatibility testing.
  • Cassini Mission Reveals Saturn's Moon has Earthly Features Washington File 24 Jul 2006 -- A region on the surface of Saturn's moon, Titan, appears to look much like Earth, with rivers, lakes and plains, according to radar images transmitted by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
  • International Space Station Status Report NASA 21 Jul 2006 -- For the first time since early 2003, the International Space Station is home to three crew members.
  • Russia, Europe agree to launch space exploration project RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2006 -- Russia and Europe have agreed to launch a joint space-based antenna project to explore outer space, a spokesman for the Russia's space agency said Friday.
  • Russian military satellite put into designated orbit RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2006 -- A military satellite launched on a Russian carrier rocket has been put into orbit, a Space Forces spokesman said Friday
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF NASA'S VIKING 1 LANDING ON THE SURFACE OF MARS Lockheed Martin 20 Jul 2006 -- Viking The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Viking 1 mission to Mars captured the world’s imagination 30 years ago when the first U.S. spacecraft to ever land on another planet came to rest on the surface of the red planet on July 20, 1976. Forty-five days later the second lander, Viking 2, joined its sibling on the other side of the planet and together began to rewrite the history books on Mars.
  • Northrop Grumman/Ball Aerospace Team Completes Critical Vibro-Acoustic Tests on James Webb Space Telescope Primary Mirror Northrop Grumman 20 Jul 2006 -- In an ongoing demonstration of the technological readiness of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) and Ball Aerospace & Technologies successfully completed several rigorous tests that proved the primary mirror for the science community's premier space telescope can successfully withstand launch and function as planned in its space environment.
  • Vandenberg launches Minuteman III AFPN 20 Jul 2006 -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from here today at 3:14 a.m.
  • Defense weather satellites provide environmental support AFPN 20 Jul 2006 -- Officials from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center here said they are on track to launch a third satellite in November that will join two others already in orbit essential in tracking global weather conditions and providing data for distribution to Department of Defense and civilian government agencies.
  • European satellite on Russian rocket faces 2-month launch delay RIA Novosti 20 Jul 2006 -- The first launch of a new generation carrier rocket, Soyuz-2.1a, has been delayed for two months for technical reasons, a spokesman for the Federal Space Agency said Thursday.
  • ESA astronaut Assigned to Columbus Laboratory Mission ESA 20 Jul 2006 -- ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel of Germany has been named to fly on the Space Shuttle mission that will deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station.
  • NASA Assigns Crew for Columbus Shuttle Mission NASA 20 Jul 2006 -- NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle mission that will deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station.
  • Northrop Grumman Delivers Network-Centric Technology for U.S. Army SATCOM On-the-Move Northrop Grumman 19 Jul 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered an advanced and compact power amplifier for the U.S. Army that is capable of enabling the transformation of battlefield communications for its network-centric Future Force.
  • Cassini Reveals Titan's Xanadu Region To Be an Earth-like Land NASA 19 Jul 2006 -- New radar images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft revealed geological features similar to Earth on Xanadu.
  • New Soyuz 2.1a rocket to be launched after delay - space agency RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- The first launch of a new generation carrier rocket, Soyuz-2.1a, will take place Wednesday night after a day's delay, the head of the Russian Federal Space Agency said.
  • Russia space agency to unite space cos. into holdings by 2015 RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2006 -- Russia's space agency will unite major national space companies into several holdings by 2015, the agency head said Wednesday.
  • Lockheed Martin Completes 5th Modernized GPS Satellite Lockheed Martin 18 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin Global Positioning Satellite IIRMLockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has completed the fifth in a series of eight modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) IIR satellites that the company is developing for the U.S. Air Force. The spacecraft are the most technologically advanced GPS satellites ever developed and will provide significantly improved navigation performance for U.S. military and civilian users worldwide.
  • Lockheed Martin Delivers Critical Flight Software For "First-Of-Its-Kind" Missile Warning Satellite Lockheed Martin 18 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has delivered the Pointing and Control Assembly software necessary to support software qualification and thermal vacuum testing of the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellite.
  • 45th Space Wing supports successful shuttle mission AFPN 18 Jul 2006 -- The 45th Space Wing provided continued support of the Space Shuttle Discovery from its launch on July 4 to its landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on July 17.
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT A2100 SATELLITE FLEET ACHIEVES 150 YEARS IN ORBIT Lockheed Martin 17 Jul 2006 -- The Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) A2100 communications satellite fleet recently achieved a major milestone by accumulating 150 years of successful in-orbit operations. The A2100 satellite series, designed and manufactured at Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), currently consists of 29 satellites featuring 1156 transponders with an accumulated lifetime of over 6,000 years of successful operations in orbit. The first A2100 satellite, AMC-1, was launched Sept. 8, 1996.
  • Lockheed Martin Selects Northrop Grumman Inertial Unit for Mobile User Objective System Satellite Northrop Grumman 17 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to provide the critical navigation systems for a next generation military satellite communications system.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Earth Washington File 17 Jul 2006 -- Space shuttle Discovery and its crew are home after a 13-day, 8.5 million-kilometer trip to the International Space Station to test shuttle safety improvements, repair a space station rail car and produce high-resolution images of the shuttle during and after its July 4 launch.
  • NASA Welcomes Space Shuttle Crew Back to Earth NASA 17 Jul 2006 -- The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew are home after a 13-day, five million-mile journey in space.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely in Florida VOA 17 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. space shuttle Discovery has landed in Florida, ending a resupply and maintenance mission to the International Space Station
  • Discovery Lands at Kennedy Space Center ESA 17 Jul 2006 -- Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, at 15:14 CEST (13:14 UT) today.
  • Discovery Lands in Florida NASA 17 Jul 2006 -- The STS-121 astronauts returned home today from a successful mission to the International Space Station when Space Shuttle Discovery touched down at Kennedy Space Center, Fla
  • US Space Shuttle Cleared for Landing VOA 16 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. space agency NASA has cleared the space shuttle Discovery for landing after an inspection of the orbiter's heat shields found no damage.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Leaves Space Station Washington File 15 Jul 2006 -- Space shuttle Discovery left the International Space Station (ISS) in final preparation for landing July 17. Before ending its STS-121 mission the shuttle remains in orbit about 70 kilometers from the station waiting for the final results of the inspection of its heat shields, NASA says.
  • Space Shuttle Undocks from ISS VOA 15 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. space shuttle Discovery has departed from the International Space Station (ISS), but has not gone far away
  • 15 Years ERS-1 – Environmental Research with EADS SPACE EADS 14 Jul 2006 -- Fifteen years ago, on 17 July 1991, Europe's first radar satellite set out on its scientific exploration of the Earth. ERS-1 (European Remote-Sensing Satellite) was designed for the European Space Agency, ESA, to have a service life of three years, however, it ultimately operated three times as long. It was not until March 2001, that the satellite was switched off on account of a technical failure. ERS-1 has paved the way for environmental research from space. Its successor, ERS-2, which was launched in 1995, has continued this role to date. EADS SPACE was the prime contractor for both missions and supplied both the platform and some key instruments.
  • International Space Station Crew Readies for September Launch Washington File 14 Jul 2006 -- Japanese businessman to spend a week at station, perform experiments
  • Shuttle Astronauts Prepare for Saturday Undocking from ISS VOA 14 Jul 2006 -- Astronauts aboard the U.S. space shuttle Discovery will undertake a final inspection of the orbiter's outer surface later Friday, before undocking from the International Space Station Saturday.
  • NASA Explains Puzzling Impact of Polluted Skies on Climate NASA 13 Jul 2006 -- NASA scientists have determined the formation of clouds is affected by the lightness or darkness of air pollution particles.
  • Raytheon Selected for Next-Generation Military GPS Receiver Development Raytheon 13 Jul 2006 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has won an initial $38 million contract from the Global Positioning System (GPS) Joint Program Office at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to design next-generation global positioning receivers. An additional award to complete development and fabricate pre-production receiver cards for test and integration in host systems could follow.
  • Raytheon Receives $75 Million Satellite Communications Contract for Mission Support Services Raytheon 13 Jul 2006 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has won an initial $38 MCKINNEY, Texas, July 13, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- With its significant number of satellite communication (SATCOM) systems installed throughout the Navy's fleet, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a five-year, $75 million contract for ongoing mission support for more than 300 of these systems.
  • Lockheed Martin Solar X-Ray Imager on NOAA GOES-13(N) spacecraft sees first light Lockheed Martin 12 Jul 2006 -- The Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] at its Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) has produced its first image. The remarkable view of the Sun, as seen in soft x-rays, is available online at: http://www.sec.noaa.gov/sxi/index.html.
  • Lockheed Martin's THAAD Weapon System Successfully Intercepts Live Target Lockheed Martin 12 Jul 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) today successfully conducted a seeker characterization test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM. The THAAD Weapon System successfully met all test objectives for the flight test. The system exceeded its objectives on the test by intercepting the Hera unitary target.
  • Northrop Grumman Develops Skyguard Laser Defense System For U.S., Allies to Defend Against Rocket, Missile, Mortar Attacks Northrop Grumman 12 Jul 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has developed the Skyguard laser-based air defense system for U.S. government agencies and allies that require near-term defense against short-range ballistic missiles, short- and long-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
  • Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Radar Successful In Third Fully Integrated Flight Test Raytheon 12 Jul 2006 -- The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar built by Raytheon Company performed successfully in a flight test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) at the White Sands Missile Range today.
  • Missile Defense Element Successfully Flight Tested AFPS 12 Jul 2006 -- The Missile Defense Agency successfully completed a developmental flight test of a major element of its ballistic missile defense system today at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., agency officials said.
  • Successful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Intercept Flight Achieved MDA 12 Jul 2006 -- Air Force Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency Director, announced that a successful test for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Element was conducted today at approximately 5:20 a.m. MDT ( 7:20 a.m. EDT ) at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
  • US Shuttle Astronauts Test Orbital Repair Method on Spacewalk VOA 12 Jul 2006 -- U.S. space shuttle astronauts are on their third spacewalk since Saturday, this time to practice methods of inspecting and repairing the vehicle's fragile shell in orbit.
  • Japan Mulls Missile Defense Capability VOA 11 Jul 2006 -- In wake of the missile tests by North Korea last week, Japanese politicians have begun discussing whether the country should have the capability to counter-attack foreign bases if it is threatened
  • Controlling Robots That Search For Mars Life ESA 11 Jul 2006 -- ExoMars will search for traces of life on Mars.
  • Europe To Launch Its First Polar-Orbiting Weather Satellite ESA 10 Jul 2006 - MetOp-A, the first member of a new family of European satellites, is to be launched on 17 July.
  • Space support key to warfighters AFPN 10 Jul 2006 -- Supporting warfighters on the ground is the overarching mission of everyone deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Carrying out this earthly mission from thousands of miles above the ground, though, is a responsibility coordinated by the Combined Air Operations Center here.
  • India to launch INSAT-4C communications satellite IRNA 10 Jul 2006 -- The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is on the threshold of reaching another important milestone with its scheduled launch for the first time on its own of the INSAT-4C communications satellite through its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) today from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Chennai.
  • India's GSLV-F02 fails in its mission IRNA 10 Jul 2006 -- The GSLV-F02, carrying INSAT-4C communication satellite, failed in its mission seconds after a perfect take off as the 49-meter-long launch vehicle deviated from its trajectory and plunged into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Shuttle Astronauts Perform Second Spacewalk VOA 10 Jul 2006 -- U.S. space shuttle astronauts are on their second spacewalk in three days, acting as orbiting mechanics at the International Space Station
  • Shuttle Discovery is Cleared to Return to Earth VOA 09 Jul 2006 -- Astronauts aboard the US shuttle Discovery learned from mission control Sunday that they are cleared to return to Earth in one week after an inspection of the exterior of the spacecraft
  • New Shuttle Extension Boom Passes First Space Walk Test VOA 09 Jul 2006 -- The crew members of the US shuttle Discovery say they are pleased with how the mission to the International Space Station is going so far
  • Report: Gaps in US Missile Defenses VOA 09 Jul 2006 -- A newly-released independent report has criticized the United States missile defense network, saying it does not do enough to protect Americans from attack.
  • Shuttle Astronauts Complete Successful Seven-Hour Spacewalk Washington File 08 Jul 2006 -- Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery, which docked with the International Space Station (ISS) July 6, conducted a successful spacewalk of more than seven hours on July 8 to fix a transporter unit aboard the space station, and extensively tested a new boom extension that can make repairs to the shuttle itself if necessary, according to NASA.
  • US Shuttle Astronauts Take Maintenance and Testing Spacewalk VOA 08 Jul 2006 -- Two U.S. shuttle astronauts are on a maintenance and testing spacewalk while docked at the International Space Station
  • Orbital Successfully Launches Medium-Range Target For Missile Defense Test Orbital Sciences Corp. 07 Jul 2006 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that it successfully launched a medium-range target (MRT-2) vehicle on June 22 under the Lockheed Martin Targets and Countermeasures Prime Contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
  • Syracuse 3B military communications satellite arrives at launch site in French Guiana Thales 07 Jul 2006 -- The new-generation military communications satellite Syracuse 3B, built by Alcatel Alenia Space as prime contractor for the French Defense procurement agency (DGA), arrived today in Kourou, French Guiana, for launch by an Ariane 5 ECA on August 11, 2006.
  • Shuttle Crew Attaches Module to Space Station VOA 07 Jul 2006 -- Crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Discovery have attached a huge Italian-built storage module to the international space station.
  • Detachment tracks space shuttle Discovery AFPN 07 Jul 2006 -- The 22nd Space Operations Squadron's Detachment 5 here is playing a pivotal role in the Discovery mission following its launch July 4 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida -- one in which the shuttle does not launch if the detachment is not ready.
  • AFIT linked to past, future of America's space program AFPN 07 Jul 2006 -- The Air Force Institute of Technology, or AFIT, has long been involved with America's efforts in space. Its association began with the early test flights of the high-altitude research aircraft, the X-15, and has continued to NASA's "Return to Flight" Discovery space shuttle launch July 4.
  • STS-121 Update NASA 07 Jul 2006 -- The focus of the STS-121 shuttle mission now turns to unloading more than 7,000 lbs of cargo, continued shuttle inspections and preparations for the mission's first spacewalk.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Successfully Docks with Space Station Washington File 06 Jul 2006 -- Space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station (ISS) July 6, as the crew announced arrival at its destination with the words "capture confirmed."
  • ESA Astronaut Reports For Duty Onboard The ISS ESA 06 Jul 2006 -- The permanent crew of the International Space Station is now back up to three.
  • NASA Uses Undersea Lab to Prep for Future Space Exploration NASA 06 Jul 2006 -- NASA will test concepts for future space exploration next month by sending three astronauts and an oceanographer on a mission to an underwater laboratory off the coast of Florida.
  • Boeing-led Team Tracks and Targets Simulated Missile in Airborne Laser Ground Test Boeing 06 Jul 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], working with industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, successfully conducted an Airborne Laser (ABL) ground test June 6, demonstrating the weapon's ability to track and target a ballistic missile.
  • Boeing to Define Next Generation Polar Satellite Payload for U.S. Air Force Boeing 06 Jul 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a $1.5 million U.S. Air Force study contract to define the next-generation communications payload for a polar-orbiting satellite.
  • Crews of Shuttle Discovery, International Space Station Link Up VOA 06 Jul 2006 -- After a successful docking, the crews of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station are working side-by-side some 350 kilometers above the Earth.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Docks with ISS VOA 06 Jul 2006 -- Two days after launch, the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station Thursday.
  • Russian space industry to be based on 3-4 core ventures by 2015 RIA Novosti 06 Jul 2006 -- Russia's government will discuss a plan to establish three or four integrated structures incorporating about 60% of all space industry enterprises at a meeting Thursday, a source said.
  • Space Shuttle Prepares for International Space Station Docking VOA 05 Jul 2006 -- Preparations are underway on the Space Shuttle Discovery for Thursday's planned docking with the International Space Station
  • ATK Supports Successful Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery ATK 05 Jul 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) reusable solid rocket motors provided more than 6 million pounds of thrust in the first two minutes of flight to help send the Space Shuttle Discovery on its mission on July 4, 2006.
  • Boeing to Build Three Additional Global Positioning System Satellites Boeing 05 Jul 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $138 million option by the U.S. Air Force to build three additional Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites under the GPS Block IIF contract.
  • German Armed Forces will receive secure communications network with two dedicated satellites EADS 05 Jul 2006 -- With the SATCOMBw programme, the German Armed Forces will have a secure information network for use by units on deployed missions. This will allow voice and fax as well as advanced data, video and multimedia applications. For the first time the Bundeswehr will have a secure communications system with dedicated military communications satellites. The entire system is due to start regular operation in the year 2009 and will constitute an important step in the implementation of the Bundeswehr concept for network-centric operations.
  • Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine Demonstrates Propulsion Technologies to Land on the Moon Pratt & Whitney 05 Jul 2006 -- In recent testing, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s (PWR) Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE) exceeded performance goals and demonstrated propulsion technologies required to land on the moon in support of NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration.
  • Third Successful Test Demonstrates Full Range and Capability of Affordable Patriot Weapons System Raytheon 05 Jul 2006 -- Another successful test of Raytheon Company's Patriot system demonstrated the full range and capability of the affordable Patriot Weapons System at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., last month. During the flight test, designed to verify the post deployment build (PDB)-6 software with an affordable Patriot anti-tactical missile (ATM), all components performed flawlessly.
  • ESA Astronaut Thomas Reiter On His Way To Space ESA 04 Jul 2006 -- A European astronaut is - for the first time ever - heading for the orbital outpost to take up duty as a member of its permanent crew.
  • NASA'S Shuttle Discovery Launch Provides Spectacular Fireworks NASA 04 Jul 2006 -- The Space Shuttle Discovery is on its way to the International Space Station after lifting off at 2:37:55 p.m. EDT Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
  • NASA's Discovery First Shuttle To Launch on July 4 Washington File 04 Jul 2006 -- Despite two launch attempts cancelled due to bad weather and dissenting views among NASA officials about whether the condition of the external tank's insulating foam allowed for a safe launch, Discovery blasted into the Florida sky July 4, the second shuttle in space since the Columbia accident in 2003.
  • Space Shuttle Discovery Embarks on 12-Day Mission VOA 04 Jul 2006 -- The Space Shuttle Discovery is in orbit after a picture-perfect launch Tuesday, the first-ever shuttle mission to lift off on America's Independence Day holiday.
  • Space Shuttle Launch Preparations Proceed Despite Crack in Insulating Foam VOA 03 Jul 2006 -- NASA officials have decided to proceed with preparations for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, despite discovering a crack in the foam insulating one of the fuel tanks
  • Crack Found in Shuttle Foam Ahead of Launch VOA 03 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. space agency NASA says it has found a crack in the foam insulation on the fuel tank of shuttle Discovery, which was scheduled to launch Tuesday.
  • Discovery Launch Postponed Due to Bad Weather VOA 02 Jul 2006 -- The launch of the US space shuttle Discovery has been postponed for the second day in a row to due to poor weather at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • Weather Delays US Space Shuttle Launch VOA 01 Jul 2006 -- The space shuttle Discovery was set to lift off (at 1949 UTC) Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but thunderstorms moved in, causing the launch to be delayed until another try Sunday



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