America.gov-Space: Introduction

Discovery to Deliver Heart of Japanese Lab to Space Station

Cheryl Pellerin — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:10:55 GMT

When Discovery launches May 31, the STS-124 mission to the space station will carry the centerpiece of Japan’s laboratory complex and reach a milestone in NASA’s restructuring of its space shuttle program after the 2003 loss of Columbia. Ten flights remain until the shuttle is retired in the summer of 2010.

Cassini Spacecraft Finds Basic Conditions for Life on Enceladus

Cheryl Pellerin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:01:08 GMT

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft discovers that Saturn’s moon Enceladus has the three basic requirements for the origins of life: water, organic compounds and a source of heat. The spacecraft studied Enceladus’ composition during a March 12 flyby that took it within 50 kilometers of the moon’s surface. The next flyby will take place in August.

Shuttle Returns After Delivering Canadian, Japanese Equipment

Cheryl Pellerin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:06:34 GMT

Space shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth after completing 250 orbits during a 16-day, 10.4 million-kilometer mission to the International Space Station that delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency’s two-armed robot named Dextre.

Spectacular Night Launch Sends Japan, Canada Devices to Station

Cheryl Pellerin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:59:27 GMT

Two space-faring vessels now are taking equipment and astronauts to the International Space Station. Endeavour left Florida in a spectacular night launch on March 11. On March 9, the Jules Verne, the first of the European Space Agency’s automated transfer vehicles, launched from Europe’s Guiana Space Centre.

Equipment from Japan, Canada To Launch with Shuttle on March 11

Cheryl Pellerin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:25:13 GMT

Space shuttle Endeavour’s March 11 mission will represent contributions of all five space station partners -- the United States, Japan, Canada, Russia and the European Space Agency. “Since … the day we launched the first piece of the International Space Station, our partnership has been looking forward to this flight,” a NASA official says.

Atlantis Home as Shuttle Endeavour Prepares for March 11 Launch

Cheryl Pellerin — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:19:43 GMT

Space shuttle Atlantis punches through high clouds and touches down on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center after a 12-day mission that delivered to the international space station and installed the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, and set the stage for the next series of launches in the United States and Europe.

Shuttle Launches To Deliver European Space Agency Lab to Station

Cheryl Pellerin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:38:47 GMT

Atlantis launches through cloud-swept skies carrying the Columbus lab, the European Space Agency’s most important contribution to the International Space Station. “We will be getting science back from the Columbus laboratory within a week or 10 days of its launching,” says Alan Thirkettle, ESA International Space Station program manager.

Flyby Prepares NASA Vessel To Orbit Mercury in 2011

Cheryl Pellerin — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:24:41 GMT

NASA’s Messenger spacecraft flies past Mercury on the first of three passes that will prepare it to orbit the closest planet to the sun for one year beginning March 18, 2011. After a journey of more than 3.2 billion kilometers, Messenger collects more than 1,200 images, close-up measurements and other observations.

Nations Join Forces To Expand Access to Earth Observations

Cheryl Pellerin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:49:57 GMT

A worldwide effort is under way to expand the access of nations to the range of data being gathered night and day by terrestrial, oceanic, airborne and space-based instruments that monitor the globe. Those who receive the information can use it to make decisions about vital issues, from natural resources to disaster threats.

Benefits Arise from Global Effort To Link Earth Observation Data

Cheryl Pellerin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:11:29 GMT

Two years into the 10-year plan to revolutionize the way environmental data are used to monitor and better understand the planet’s land, sea and atmospheric conditions, scientific advances that will benefit all nations already are being announced. The effort involves building a global earth observation system of systems, or GEOSS.

Iraq Water Resources Benefit from U.S. Expertise, Funding

Cheryl Pellerin — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:24:32 GMT

U.S. scientists and engineers are working with the Iraq Ministry of Water Resources to install the latest technology and implement modern methods for managing water resources. The effort is important because Iraq’s water resources must be monitored and managed to optimize distribution of water for agriculture and electrical generation.

Space Station Might Open to Government, Commercial Clients

Cheryl Pellerin — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:10:56 GMT

NASA is formulating a plan to open part of the U.S. segment of the International Space Station to U.S. government and commercial clients for their own research projects beginning in 2011. NASA officials also discuss the recently concluded mission of space shuttle Atlantis to the space station and the preparations for the August mission of Endeavour.