ARES 1X Stacking Toward July Test Launch

At the Kennedy Space Center today, stacking of the ARES 1X test vehicle continues in high bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building.

In this NASA/KSC image taken this morning, workers are moving quickly to prepare for the anticipated test flight this July - or August based on the need to use Pad 39B in support of the Hubble flight.

Russia's Tsyklon 3 launches Science Satellite

The Russian Space Agency successfully launched a solar science satellite today aboard the Tsyklon 3 rocket - their first such major science payload launch in four years.

The RSA's launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in north Russia occurred at 8:30 am EST or 13:30 GMT today. Forty-four minutes later, the Russian-built science payload left the Tsyklon 3 upper stage.

Known as the Coronas Photon, the satellite's three year mission will study the effects of solar activity around the earth's atmosphere from it's orbital outpost about 310 miles up, and inclined 82.5 degrees to the equator.

MOVIE: Cape Canaveral

Japan Successfully Launches Ozone Satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency today successfully launched an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center - located on an island off of southern Japan.

The H-IIA carried a climate payload which Japan will use for measuring the earth's ozone layer. Known as the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), the payload lifted-off at 12:54 pm local Japan time today (8:54 pm EST on Thursday evening) aboard the 174-foot tall H-IIA F15. This was the rocket's the 15th flight.

Sixteen minutes and one second later, the payload separated from the rocket's upper stage while over 8 degrees N, 132 degrees E. The upper stage then continued on and deployed seven separate smaller satellites as it flew a trajectory south and west over western Australia and south over the coast of Antarctica.

Inclement weather forced a two-hour launch delay. The rocket flew through clouds as it leapt from it's seaside launch pad.

 The H-IIA is a forerunner to the upcoming H-IIB rocket which will support important Japanese missions, including cargo transport to the international space station and to the Moon. A test flight of the new H-IIB is slated for this year.

A busy day aboard Discovery

The seven member crew of the 125th space shuttle flight spent this morning aboard Discovery running through a mock countdown as they finish their last day of practice here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Earlier they donned their launch and entry suits and took the astro van to launch complex 39-A - just as they will do in three weeks when they prepare for launch. Inside KSC's launch control room, they went through a countdown which concluded at just before 11 am, when the computer called for a cut-off at the T-:04 second point.

It was a very cold morning with temperatures in the mid-30's during this mock count. So much so that had this been an actual launch day, a few here at the KSC press site stated they would have scrubbed for the day due to launch rules pertaining to cold temperatures. [Freezing weather has a negative effect on certain rubber joints and seals which support the casings on the solid rocket boosters.]

Also this afternoon, the payload bay doors of Discovery were slowly closed for flight. The above image was recorded by NASA/ KSC moments prior to door closing, and show the Starboard Truss solar array segment which will generate more power for the international space station. Beginning in late-May, the station is scheduled to begin supporting long duration crews of six instead of the current three person rotation.

A flight readiness review by the entire NASA centers will occur on February 3. Currently launch of Discovery is scheduled for February 12th at 7:32 am EST.

Crew spends Inaugural Day conducting Pad Training

While a new presidential administration took over at noon today, the crew of the next space shuttle flight were to busy to stop and watch as they conducted launch pad emergency escape training.

Even under cold and windy conditions, the seven member crew of Discovery went to the 195-foot level of the launch pad 39-A and learned about the escape baskets which slide down a cable from the pad to the ground; the white room which is the room at the end of the orbiter access arm which connects to the crew hatch where the crew will don their helmets and ingress Discovery; and took time out for a few pictures and more.

Tomorrow, the crew will dress for a mock launch countdown and board Discovery. Later, they will head back to south Houston, Texas and the Johnson Space Center for the final three weeks of training prior to launch.

Discovery Crew at KSC; Pad Training Starts

The flight crew of Discovery - the next space shuttle flight known as STS-119 - arrived an hour early this morning as their jets touched down here at the Kennedy Space Center for three days of launch pad familiarization and training.

The seven person crew arrived at KSC's shuttle Landing Facility at 10:30 am EST, and in a short time will head to an area near Discovery's launch pad to begin emergency escape procedures - which include rides in the M-113 armored personnel carrier.

Discovery Crew heads to KSC Today

Discovery sits at Pad 39-A today at 7:50 am.

The seven member crew of the next space shuttle mission will arrive here at the Kennedy Space Center at just before noon today to spend three days of launch pad training prior to their February launch.

Led by mission commander Col. Lee Archambault, the crew of Discovery will spend Tuesday at the launch pad discussing and demonstrating emergency escape procedures. On Wednesday morning, they will don their orange partial pressure suits and climb aboard Discovery for a mock countdown.

The crew is expected to begin arriving in four T-38A trainer jets at KSC's shuttle landing facility at about 11:30 am EST.

 ++ We will have LIVE coverage beginning at 11:25 am of the crew arrival. ++

The crew is rounded out by pilot Tony Antonelli and mission specialists Joe Acaba, Richard Arnold, John Phillips, Steve Swanson and Koichi Wakata (Japan).

Discovery will carry the last huge set of solar arrays to the international space station beginning with her launch at 7:32 am EST, on February 12th.

Tonight's Delta IV-H Launch Image

United Launch Alliance has just released this image from tonight's launch. Liftoff occurred following a 2 hour, 14 minute delay from Cape Canaveral Air Station. Read our story below.

What a great image as you see the Delta's three liquid fueled boosters burning just two seconds following launch.

Delta IV-H Launches from the Cape Tonight

A United Space Alliance Delta IV-Heavy turned the night sky over Cape Canaveral into brief day light tonight as it pushed a military satellite into earth orbit.

The bright orange glaze over Cape Canaveral began as the Delta IV-H left her launch pad at 9:47 pm EST. Three liquid fueled boosters gave the 1.6 million pound gross vehicle the necessary lift.

Tonight's sucessful launch marked the 337th Delta rocket launch; and only the second operational Delta IV-H launch. The last occurred in November 2007.

The payload - a military satellite known as Orion - will work on station in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. It will become operational following a few weeks of on-orbit check outs. This orbital altitude will allow for the satellite to stay at one fixed point as it orbits as the earth spins.

Orion was built by the National Reconnaissance Office and this flight was designated NROL-26.

Beginning now, the rest of the launch phase is in a military news blackout. We will never know if the Orion payload reached its intended orbit, however the main launch phase was nominal.

T-05 minutes and counting...

COUNTDOWN RESUMES: T-:05:00 minutes and counting. Standing by for the launch of the second operational Delta IV-H flight.

Delta Launch Delay

LAUNCH DELAY: T-05:00 minutes and Holding. Delay computer related. Launch no earlier than 7:55 pm ET.

WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE HERE

T-5 minutes and holding...

7:12 pm - T-5:00 minutes and holding. All still go for 7:33 pm EST.

Delta IV-H Remains poised for Launch Tonight

Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL: Clocks are at T-0:35 minutes and counting as we await the launch of the United Space Alliance Delta IV-Heavy unmanned rocket here at Complex 37.

Launch remains set for 7:33 pm EST tonight.

The vehicle is fueled and the Cape is not working any issues currently.

Delta IV-H: Tonight's Launch Info

-- WATCH THE LAUNCH LIVE HERE --

beginning at 7:05 pm ET tonight

Tonight, a Delta IV-Heavy is set to lift-off on a military flight from Cape Canaveral. Here is the latest to follow the mission:

Liftoff: Tonight at 7:33 pm EST. Launch Window closes at 11:33 pm

Television: Click Here to Watch the Launch LIVE

Where: Cape Canaveral Air Station, Pad 37

Payload: NROL-26: Orion military satellite

Intended Orbit: GeoStationary [stay at a fixed point over a certain geographic area at the equator]

Flight: Second Delta IV-Heavy operational flight

This will make for a beautiful night, as the liquid fueled boosters light-up the clear night sky over Cape Canaveral. Stay tune for updates later today.

Trouble with a gaseous nitrogen (LN2) valve attached to ground equipment - not on the Delta - was the cause for two launch scrubs on Wednesday & Thursday.

Discovery Crew Training at KSC

The seven member crew for the next space shuttle flight are nearing the end of their training as their February 12th launch day inches closer and closer.

They have been in training for over a year to prepare for their flight to the international space station, traveling all over the United States and spending hundreds of hours in shuttle simulators and up in the air. 

On Thursday afternoon, Discovery's commander and pilot, Lee Archambault and Tony Antonelli, traveled to Edwards, AFB in California to practice landings in a Gulfstream II jet known as the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft. They will spend this morning making touch and go's on the two main runways in the California desert.

Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata round out the crew of seven. 

Discovery's crew will travel late Sunday here to the Kennedy Space Center for three days of launch day training known as TCDT. This Wednesday, the crew will act as if it was launch day as they awake, dress in their orange partial pressure suits and climb aboard Discovery for the practice countdown.

Launch of Discovery on mission STS-119 is currently targeted for February 12th at 7:32 am EST.

Delta IV-H to Launch Saturday Night

The multi-delayed launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV heavy launcher is now being targeted for Saturday evening at 7:33 pm EST - the opening of a four-hour launch window.

Technicians have been working since Wednesday to repair a faulty nitrogen ground support valve, and need another day to support the repair job. Also, winds tonight and Friday were expected to be higher than launch limits support.

The Delta IV will take into geostationary orbit the huge United States' Orion military satellite.

SCRUB: Delta IV-H no-go Tonight

Delta IV-H SCRUB: Winds associated with a cold front, and the preexisting nitrogen valve issue has delayed tonight's launch until possibly Saturday evening. Stay tune for a new formal launch date.

Discovery STS-119 Rollout Images

A few great images we just received from KSC /NASA PAO this afternoon. Discovery arrived at her seaside launch pad 39-A at 12:15 PM EST today.

Discovery Heading for Launch Pad now

6:45 am today: Discovery rollout to Pad 39-A

The space shuttle Discovery stack is on the move from the vehicle assembly building to her seaside launch pad as NASA inches closer for her launch.

Rollout began at 5:17 am EST this morning, and the space shuttle should arrive at launch pad 39-A late this morning at about 12 noon.

The 3.5-mile journey from the VAB to Pad 39-A normally takes just over six hours to make the journey. Traveling at 1 mph, NASA's mobile launcher platform makes a slow trek so that little vibration is made.

Launch of Discovery is planned for 7:30 am EST on February 12th.

This Monday, the seven-member flight crew of Discovery will be here at Kennedy Space Center for the standard preflight dress rehearsal for prelaunch and launch day activities. Known as TCDT, the crew will arrive on Monday at KSC; and on Wednesday don their launch suits and climb aboard Discovery for a practice countdown.

Discovery mission STS-119 will deliver the final huge set of solar arrays to the international space station.

Delta IV-H to Launch Wednesday at 7:45 pm

Weather conditions are expected to be great as Cape Canaveral Air Station prepares for Wednesday evening's launch of a Delta IV-Heavy, on a multi-delayed military mission.

Delta IV-H with her military satellite, Orion, are scheduled for launch at 7:45:01 pm EST tomorrow night from Launch Complex 37 here at Cape Canaveral. This will mark the opening of a nearly four hour launch window.

++ SpaceLaunchNews will support LIVE launch coverage beginning at 7:25 pm ET, running thru to about 20 minutes post-launch. Look for the Launch Coverage link at Top of this page. ++

Damage to foam insulation and weather concerns delayed tonight's launch attempt until Wednesday. The foam was repaired early this morning, but needs a full day to harden prior to launch.

Delta IV-H Launch Delayed to Wednesday

This evening's launch of a Delta IV-Heavy ELV from Cape Canaveral Air Station has been delayed until early Wednesday evening.

Tonight's planned launch was just scrubbed minutes ago by Cape officials due to possible weather concerns. Liftoff had been planned for 7:49 pm EST tonight.

> SLN will provide LIVE Launch Coverage of tomorrow night's launch beginning 20 minutes prior to T-0. Stay tune.

Delta IV-H nears Tuesday Cape Launch

The launch of a Delta IV-H unmanned rocket from Cape Canaveral is firmly set for this Tuesday night on a classified department of defense flight.

Known as the Orion National Reconnaissance Office satellite 26, the payload is slated to lift-off between 7:01 pm and 11:59 pm EST, on January 13th. The DoD is keeping the exact launch time secret until early Tuesday morning for security reasons. However, a liftoff late in the 7 pm hour is most likely. 

Weather wise, winds near the 22 mph limit could delay the launch time. Rain or cloud levels are not expected to be an issue.

The first launch off the earth in 2009, the Delta IV-Heavy launcher will rise from Cape Canaveral Air Station Complex 37-B on a high inclination orbit. The 232-foot tall Delta will place Orion in geostationary orbit. This satellite will replace an older, not as tech savvy satellite currently on station.

We are working to provide live launch video of the mission. Stay tune.

Discovery attached to her Tank-Boosters Today

Here at the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building, orbiter Discovery was mated to her external tank & boosters today to form the mission STS-119 shuttle stack.

Slated for rollout to launch pad 39-A early Wednesday morning, Discovery will spend the next few days running through attachment and wiring checks prior to rollout.

Discovery and her crew of seven will launch on February 12th to the international space station to attach the last solar array section, known as the starboard 6 truss. This will help support the increased permanent crew size this spring as station crews increase from three to six.

Of note: The STS-119 external tank and solid rocket boosters were to be used for the Hubble repair flight last Fall. However, when the flight was delayed, Atlantis was rolled back to the VAB and removed so that the set can used for Discovery.

Santa Claus passes the Space Station

Station Crew Rests; Busy February '09

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The crew aboard the International Space Station are spending a quiet day on orbit today following a busy and late-day spacewalk which saw several experiments deployed outside the Russian Zvezda module.

Right now, the crew is sleeping in on their day off after staying up late following the station's 19th spacewalk of 2008 last night. 

The crew of three will spend tomorrow recharging the Russian spacesuits batteries, stowing spacewalk tools, and performing normal experiment tasks, as they spend the Christmas holiday aboard the orbital outpost.

Taking a look ahead to February 2009, station operations will become busier as first, a Russian Progress supply ship will dock to the station on Feb. 12th; and two days later, on Feb. 14th, the space shuttle Discovery will dock following an on time launch on the 12th at 7:30 pm EST. 

Mission STS-119 will deliver the final set of solar arrays in support of the increased need for more power to support station operations.

Spacewalkers Install & Retrieve Experiments

Spacewalkers on Monday night at the Zvezda Module.

High on orbit 220 miles above the good earth, the international space station and her crew closed out the final spacewalk of 2008 to install equipment and experiments as NASA and her global partners take one more step in the completion of the orbital outpost in space.

Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov completed a five hour, 38 minute spacewalk this morning at 1:29 am EST.

Among the tasks completed was the removal for return to earth of the Russian Biorisk long duration samples experiment from outside the Pirs compartment. 

They also installed a new European tray of experiments known as Expose-R on the Russian Zvezda module. However, as 11 PM EST approached, Expose-R was not communicating with the ground via cables connected by the spacewalkers. After several attempts to connect and reconnect, the ground told the pair to return Expose-R to the airlock. Mission control need to have that experiment rack communicate with its scientists in Europe.

Another experiment tray by the Russians was installed and is working nominally - the Impuls plasma physics experiment. It was install near where the Expose-R was installed on the Zvezda service module.

Tonight's 119th spacewalk devoted to the construction of the international space station was CDR Fincke's fifth, and lead spacewalker Lonchakov first. The thirs station crew member Sandy Magnus remained inside to assist with camera views and remind the pair of the the timeline.

Forty years ago, we were heading into lunar orbit for the first time. Today, we have a truly wonderful home in space. And in eleven years, we hope to be sailing the ocean of space as Americans return to the moon. 

Spacewalk images from Tonight

9:48pm ET: space station during tonight's spacewalk

9:34 pm: Both spacewalkers are seen at the Zarya module.

Space Station Spacewalk Underway Tonight

Two of the international space station's crew members are taking a walk in space to perform a few equipment updates and install an experiment tray for the Europeans.

Running a half-hour late, Station commander Mike Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov began tonight's spacewalk at 7:51 pm EST, from the Russian  Pirs airlock. The pair will work outside the station for around six hours while the station's third crew member, flight engineer Sandra Magnus, will act as the spacewalk cordinatior.

According to Mission Control, this is the 119th spacewalk dedicated to the construction of the international space station which began ten years ago.

Currently, the space duo is installing the Langmuir probe on the Pirs airlock. The probe will collect data as it measures the electromagnetic region around the station. The last two Russian spacecrafts, called Soyuz, have had reentry issues after leaving the station, and engineers suspect that the station's electric discharge on the Soyuz has played a part in the craft's steeper than planned reentry.

 ++ Watch the spacewalk LIVE via our link at top, right column. +++

Europe's Ariane 5 Delivers 2 ComSats to Orbit

The European Space Agency's most powerful unmanned rocket - Ariane 5 - lifted off this evening from the northeastern coast of South America to deliver two communications satellites, destined for geostationary orbits.

The Ariane 5's liquid hydrogen main engine fired up as the countdown clock hit zero, and then nearly seven seconds later, the twin solid rocket boosters ignited at 5:35:14 pm EST today to begin the launch profile.

Twenty-seven minutes after leaving it's launch pad in French Guiana, the first of the two EuTelSat spacecraft - Hot Bird 9 - separated from the upper stage. Next, the W2M deployed three minutes later.

The next Ariane 5 launch is currently targeted for mid-February and will carry aloft the Hot Bird 10.

Space Station preparing for Monday Spacewalk

The three person crew aboard the international space station spent today preparing for Monday's spacewalk, as NASA and their international partners prepare for a busy 2009 on orbit.

Monday's spacewalk is devoted to the Russian side of the station, as station commander American Mike Fincke and Russian flight engineer Yury Lonchakov egress the Pirs airlock at about 7:14 pm EST.

PROGRAM NOTE: Watch the complete Live spacewalk via this page by clicking on the NASA-TV viewer at top, right. Watch NASA-TV in a larger viewer than what most sites provide.

Early this morning, Fincke and Lonchakov performed a dry run preparation of the Russian-built spacesuits, including putting them on in the airlock, pressurizing them and testing their flexibility in them. 

Also this morning, third crew person Sandy Magnus and ground controllers at the Johnson Space Center tested a caution and warning alarm system in the Harmony node.

apple's iTunes Offers NASA HD & Music

As a loyal customer of apple products as of late, I currently use my apple iPhone 3G with my new iMac 20" computer for calendar, email and multimedia syncing. This allows my iPhone with 16 GB of memory to carry my computer's media files on the go.

Now take a step back from this picture, and visualize having the latest NASA high def video saved to your computer or iPhone. I have the enjoyment of watching NASA HDTV anytime I want on my iPhone via apple's iTunes.

Available to download for free [http://apple.com] on any Mac or PC, iTunes offers NASAcast and many other free NASA video clips which run several minutes each. From the latest shuttle launches and landings, to Hubble & space station updates, you can stay up to date and carry the cool video short movies with you.

iTunes has a music search at upper right of their page. As a treat, type in "Cape Canaveral" and download the cool song Cape Canaveral by Conor Oberst. This song was me during the 1990's! Every line I can relate to or saw...

Also, I put "Apollo" into iTunes music search and downloaded recently the Apollo 13 motion picture soundtrack, and several audio-only NASA Apollo launch countdown clips, too. Comment below on what you have downloaded, I'd love to find it.

Cool history embedded in my phone and to watch when I want - mine to keep. So when your doing your Holiday shopping, think about implementing new multimedia technologies into your life.

KSC WORKING TOWARD ARES 1-X JULY LAUNCH

It was a busy week at the Kennedy Space Center as technicians and engineers made milestones in preparing for this summer's test launch of the new ARES rocket.

Scheduled for its test launch from complex 39-B in late-July 2009, the ARES 1-X will test ground support systems, such as fueling and launch pad support. ARES will be the main mode of space travel by astronauts throughout the 2010's & 2020's as Americans prepare for a return stay on the Moon.

The above NASA/KSC digital images were taken on December 4th inside high bay 4 of the vehicle assembly building at KSC. Great pictures show what most have not seen, the coming together of the upper stage segment pieces for ARES 1-X.

The late-July ARES launch is based on a May launch of shuttle Atlantis on the delayed Hubble Space Telescope servicing flight. Due to new flight rules, since Atlantis is not flying to the space station on Mission STS-125, a back up shuttle needs to be on the adjacent pad in support of a possible rescue mission. This is based on post-Columbia rules to support a damaged shuttle on orbit.

Measuring 18 feet wide, the segments are pretty much a modified solid rocket booster.

ARES is step one under NASA's new Constellation program which reflects trips to the space station, the Moon and Mars. ARES 1 will be for crew transport, while ARES 5 will support station and Lunar cargo flights only. Orion will be the name of the crew vehicle which will dock to the station, or carry a crew of four and a lunar lander to the Moon's orbit beginning around 2020.

The first human flight aboard the ARES-Orion vehicle is slated for about 2014. The image above shows Orion enroute to the space station, with it's high gain antenna deployed and disk solar arrays on either side.

Endeavour Arrives at Kennedy Space Center

"Yes!", was the word as technicians and Kennedy Space Center personnel welcomed home space shuttle Endeavour today as she returned to her home station atop a Boeing 747 aircraft.

The massive wheels of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft hit runway 33 with a small cloud of smoke at 2:44 pm EST today. Enjoy the NASA-KSC images we just received here at the Cape:

The aeronautical duo flew north over Patrick, AFB up to Cocoa Beach and then made a series of turns over the KSC industrial region. A beautiful blue sky with a shiny star hearlded a series of awes and "hey lookup there..." at the KSC Visitor's Complex this afternoon. That shiny star grew to silver and white as they flew closer, and the crowds turned their cameras skyward to capture a true American event.

  

Space Station Spacewalk set for Dec. 22

CDR Fincke in Station's Harmony Node Today

Crew members aboard the international space station will perform a short spacewalk on Monday, December 22 to install a European science experiment and a navigation unit for Russia.

The station's current Expedition 18 commander Mike Fincke and Russian flight engineer Yury Lonchakov will step outside the Russian Zvezda module for about five hours. Third crew member Sandy Magnus will stay inside and assist with the spacewalk.

The space walkers will install the European Space Agency's EXPOSE-R, which is a box of nine experiments which will, "expose a variety of seeds and spores to the harsh environment of space", according to the Johnson Space Center.  EXPOSE-R will be returned to earth in mid-2010 aboard a Russian spacecraft.

They will also install a Russian GPS (global positioning system) antenna which will allow a new Russian docking module to perform an automatic docking with the Zevezda module in mid-2009. The new module will also include a spacewalk port for future walks in space.

 

Today, both Fincke and Lonchakov spent time in the Pirs Docking Compartment airlock performing spacesuit and tool checks.

In the coming week, many cities in America will be able to view the space station for several minutes. Visit Station Sightings, and select your city for complete times and the station's orbital direction.

At a mission elapsed time of 61 days & nine hours for the crew of Expedition 18, this is spacelaunchnews.com.

Endeavour Overnights in Louisiana

Endeavour at Barksdale Thursday - Shreveport Times

Shuttle Endeavour is making her trip home, one state at a time, due to stormy weather this afternoon over the southeast by heading to Barksdale, AFB for an over night stay tonight.

The Air Duo land at Barksdale late today.

Located in the northwest corner of Louisiana, Barksdale will be the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft /Endeavour duo's hotel this evening as the Boeing 747 is refueled and KSC personal traveling with the aircraft combo wait out the inclement Florida weather. The pair arrived Barksdale, AFB after swinging south by Houston at 2:14 pm EST.

Endeavour / SAC 747's arrival at Barksdale was delayed slightly due to strong winds associated with the cold front which had just passed through; and a series of military aircraft performing touch-and-go's at the airbase. Among the planes landing on Endeavour's future runway were a few F-16's, a KC-135 tanker plane and three A-10's. It was a busy afternoon for air control there.

Weather permitting, Endeavour is scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility around 2:30 pm EST on Friday afternoon.

Storms Delay Endeavour's Ferry Flight

Endeavour late-Wednesday (FTW Star-Telegram)

The NASA 747 shuttle carrier aircraft with Endeavour riding piggyback, spent last evening near Fort Worth, Texas, and due to very bad weather from Louisiana to Florida may stay in Texas another day.

The last time a space shuttle orbiter visited here in Fort Worth was 1997 during another NASA ferry flight.

After refueling last night, NASA support personal are watching the inclement weather over Florida today, however a planned stop over in Louisiana may be ruled out or delayed until tomorrow.

Endeavour departs Edwards, AFB for Florida

Endeavour is finally enroute back to her home in Florida after departing Edwards, AFB in Californina late this morning.

Riding atop the shuttle carrier aircraft, or a Boeing 747 modified to piggyback an orbiter, the duo where wheels up at 10:03 am EST today or 7:03 am PST, to begin the two day flight across the United States.

Watching it via NASA-TV [located at top, right column] we enjoyed a beautiful surise departure from Edwards and the Dryden Flight Research Center, where Endeavour had returned from her 15-day space station flight on Nov. 30th.


The 747 /Endeavour duo will likly spend the night tonight near Ft. Worth, Texas, and depart late morning tomorrow pending a weather front over the lower southeastern states.

Delta IV Military Launch Delayed

UPDATE: The multi-delayed launch of a Delta IV from Cape Canaveral has again been delayed from next week's scheduled flight to possibly late-January, according to the National Reconnaissance Office today.

Spacecraft readiness and not the launcher is the root cause for the launch slip, stated the NRO this morning. This means that the next Cape launch will either be this Delta IV launch or space shuttle Discovery's flight now targeted for February 12th.

Endeavour to arrive at KSC Thursday

Update: The Jumbo Boeing 747 with shuttle Endeavour attached is now scheduled to depart Dryden in California on Wednesday morning at about 9:29 am EST, or 6:26 am local time.

Weather and a slight hardware issue has kept Endeavour at the Dryden Flight Research Center a few days longer than planned. Endeavour should arrive here at the Kennedy Space Center midday Thursday.

Endeavour to Return to KSC on Tuesday

Endeavour in mate/demate on Dec. 5 (LA Times)

The space shuttle Endeavour will remain in California until Monday morning as she is prepared for her cross country flight which will end here at the Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, we had reported that KSC engineers at Edwards, AFB in California were ahead of the timeline in preparing the orbiter for her return. However, an issue with the aerodynamic tail cone attachment on Friday will keep the shuttle's return on the normal timeline of a Monday departure.

According to the offices at Edwards and the Dryden Flight Research Center, three of the eight custom made pins which are used to bolt the tail cone over the orbiter's main engines were too large. Technicians then went to work on Friday to reduce the size of those three pins which were only a micro size to big.

Later today, crews will attach the tail cone and begin hoisting the orbiter to prepare for mating to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft - a modified Boeing 747.

Endeavour landed at Edwards on Nov. 30th, following her NASA-touted home improvement mission to the international space station.

STS-125 ET-130 Tank for Hubble Flight is Hoisted

The huge rust-colored external tank for the second space shuttle flight of 2009 was moved today into position to be attached to its solid rocket boosters for flight.

The ET-130 tank [right, today] was hoisted several hundred feet up into a vertical climb in the Kennedy Space Center's vehicle assembly building high bay #2, where it will soon be attached to its booster's and the orbiter Atlantis sometime after February.

Launch of Atlantis of mission STS-125 is now targeted for this May 12th on the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

Endeavour may Depart on Sunday for KSC

Endeavour could be ready to take-off from the Dryden Flight Research Center in California for her ferry flight back here to the Kennedy Space Center one day earlier, according to KSC personal at Edwards, AFB.

Everything is ahead of schedule as Endeavour [above, today] gets hoisted atop a modified Boeing 747 for the two day flight which may begin on Sunday, December 7th. Then late on Monday morning, Space Coast residents will be able to see the duo fly over the beaches as it heads for KSC's shuttle landing facility.

Make plans if work or school allows, as many of us have seen, it is a beautiful sight as they fly over.

Endeavour landed on November 30th at Edwards due to inclement weather at KSC.

Atlantis to Fly to Hubble Telescope on May 12

The final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope now has a working target date, according to NASA, as a critical data component heads for the Kennedy Space Center and then to Hubble this spring.

Currently, shuttle Atlantis is targeted to launch on mission STS-125 on May 12, 2009. And as NASA lays out an updated schedule, Atlantis will move to her seaside launch pad in April as will shuttle Endeavour as they bot aim for mid-May launches. Endeavour will standdown to Atlantis as she serves as a rescue shuttle if an emergency arises for Atlantis while in space.

Endeavour would then launch in early to mid-June following a successful flight to Hubble by Atlantis.

According to the Johnson Space Center's PAO office this afternoon, the "STS-125 [mission] is an 11-day flight featuring five spacewalks to extend Hubble's life into the next decade by refurbishing and upgrading the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments and swapping failed hardware.

Scott Altman will command with Gregory C. Johnson serving as pilot. Mission specialists are veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.

Space Station Crew Busy, Endeavour at Edwards

Space Station today at 11:50 am ET - Progress & Soyuz

Orbiter Endeavour continues to be serviced following her Sunday landing at Edwards, AFB in California, and will prepare for her cross-country flight beginning next week.

On Tuesday, about 200 of Kennedy Space Center's finest will arrive at Edwards to assist in the rollover to the mate/demate device which will allow Endeavour to be hoisted atop a modified Boeing 747 aircraft for the ferry flight.

Currently, they have targeted December 8 for the trip home to KSC to begin. Endeavour should be fully atop the 747 on Saturday.

Endeavour's STS-126 flight crew will depart Edwards this afternoon for the trip home to Ellington Airfield and a grand welcome by family, friends and coworkers.

Meanwhile aboard the international space station, crew members of Commander Mike Fincke, Yury Lonchakov and Sandy Magnus are spending this morning working on experiments with the ground; Finke performed a HAM radio chat with a school in India; Magnus [above] checked family e-mails; and at 12 noon EST, Magnus began a private medical conference on air to ground two.

Endeavour post-Landing Work Continues

[7:08 pm EST] Endeavour is seen on Runway 04 at Edwards now Landing +2 hrs, 43 minutes, as ground crews continue to safe the orbiter and prepare to roll her over toward the NASA mate/demate device.

A few NASA digital images from this afternoon's 4:25 pm EST landing at Edwards. The drag chute is deployed just after main gear touchdown to slow the 220 mph orbiter down, and put less wear on the breaking system.

Endeavour Lands with Beauty & Pride

The orbiter Endeavour landed with beauty and pride today completing a 16-day NASA-proclaimed home improvement mission of the international space station.

Following bad weather forecasts for her prime landing site here at Kennedy Space Center, Endeavour prepared for her California reroute which also extended the mission by three hours so that the shuttle could make her space exit.

Touchdown on concrete runway 04 at Roger's Dry Lakebed at Edwards occurred at 4:25:06 pm EST, after traveling 6.6 million miles since launch. Nose gear touchdown: 4:25:21 pm EST. And Wheels stop following rollout: 4:26:03 pm EST.

Total Mission elapsed time for STS-126: 15 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes, 37 seconds, from liftoff to wheels stop.

Endeavour "Go" for DeOrbit Burn

Endeavour's crew was just given the go for the deorbit burn which will drop the orbiter out of orbit into a freefall back to earth. Landing at Edwards, AFB in California is set for 4:25 pm EST, 1:25 pm Pacific.

Landing Day for Endeavour - But When, Where?

Landing of the space shuttle Endeavour here at the Kennedy Space Center is currently no-go according to Mission Control as a strong weather front pushes its way south across central Florida.

Today's planned 1:19 pm EST landing here at KSC will not occur, so now Mission Control is working two thoughts: an Edwards, AFB in California attempt, or waiving off for today and landing Endeavour in Florida on Monday. The later is what the scientists and ground crews like in order to 1) get the just arrived from space experiments to their labs; and 2) get Endeavour turned around quicker for her next flight this May 15th. It takes a shuttle one week to return back to KSC from a California landing.


The first Edwards, AFB in southern California landing attempt would see Endeavour's main gear hit the dry lake bed at 4:25 pm EST, on orbit 250.


The Spaceflight Meteorology Group latest weather forecast for the Cape calls for winds of 19 knots with gusts to 28 knots at KSC for both landing opportunities. Anvil clouds are expected to be over the shuttle landing runway with thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles. All of this shows either a waive off or a California landing today.

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Russian Supply Ship Docks with Space Station

A Russian Progress M31 unmanned cargo ship docked with the international space station minutes ago following a slight docking issue as it approached.

Progress 31 was to have automatically docked, however station flight engineer Yury Lonchakov had to manually guide the Progress 31 spacecraft to a 7:28 am EST docking while the pair flew high over eastern China.

During the next half hour, system latches in the docking port will hard dock the Progress. This will be followed by leak checks and hatch opening later this morning.

Russia normally sends up a new Progress to the station every six to eight weeks on average; and beginning next year, Japan will begin sending up their own supply vehicle for docking with the Kibo module.