The Official Space Exploration Thread

[Scott]

A meteor flew over MN last night...I heard the boom but missed the lights

[DSJ™]

This might be the meteor Scott.

Massive Fireball Lights Up Wisconsin Sky

The "Major," Green Meteor Lights Midwest Night Sky

NASA And Other Experts Provide Explanation Of Meteor NASA Estimates Meteor Was 3 Feet Wide

[DSJ™]

Nasa embarks on a voyage into the unknown

President Speach at NASA

Discovery Undocks, Cleared for Monday Landing

Space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station at 8:52 a.m. EDT. Shuttle Pilot James P. Dutton, Jr. performed a fly around of the station, enabling his crewmates to conduct a photo survey of the complex.

Weather permitting, the deorbit burn is planned for 7:43 a.m. Monday, leading to a landing at 8:51 a.m. at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility.

The crew was notified that the Mission Management team has cleared space shuttle Discovery’s thermal protection systems for entry. The MMT did not work any other major issues.



The aft section of the docked space shuttle Discovery and the station's robotic Canadarm2 are featured in this image photographed by an STS-131 crew member on the International Space Station. The Red Sea, Sinai Peninsula (center) and Nile River (left) are seen approximately 215 miles below. Credit: NASA.



Space shuttle Discovery is seen from the International Space Station shortly after undocking. Image credit: NASA TV.

Volcano's Ash No Threat to Space Shuttle Landing

[DSJ™]

Discovery landing nixed due to weather

Discovery will have five landing opportunities available on Tuesday; two in Florida and three in California. The first Kennedy Space Center opportunity would occur at about 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 GMT) with a second chance at about 9:08 a.m. EDT (1308 GMT). The first Edwards AFB opportunity would be at about 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), the second at about 10:36 a.m. EDT (1436 GMT) and the final opportunity at about 12:11 p.m. EDT (1611 GMT).

[DSJ™]

Touchdown! Welcome back Discovery.  

T-minus 3 flights & counting...  

[DSJ™]

Space shuttle Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completing the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station. Credit NASA TV.



This view from a NASA camera shows the space shuttle Discovery during its Tuesday morning descent just before landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 20, 2010 to end the STS-131 mission. Credit NASA TV.

[Darby]

Wow.

[DSJ™]

Nice, cool beans Darb. Break out the smellows! 

More on the NASA site.

NASA's New Eye on the Sun Delivers Stunning First Images

[DSJ™]

Top-secret U.S. spacecraft launches



A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket with the Air Force’s Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) launches from its Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad at 7:52 p.m. EDT on April 22, 2010. Credit: Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance.



Diagram of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Some new details have emerged on the secretive space plane's April 2010 launch test flight. Graphic by Karl Tate.



The X-37B space plane prototype is seen on a runway during flight tests in this undated photo released by the U.S. Air Force. Credit: USAF.

Boeing X-37

[DSJ™]

Starry-Eyed Hubble Celebrates 20 Years of Awe and Discovery

Change in Experiment Will Delay Shuttle’s End

[Darby]

This is a very sad time for a space junkie.      I can only hope there are more delays.

[DSJ™]

Space shuttle set for Friday liftoff



Morning breaks over Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the arrival of space shuttle Atlantis in preparation for its final flight, the STS-132 mission in May 2010. Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.



At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, space shuttle Atlantis is revealed Thursday evening after retraction of the pad's rotating service structure. Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

[DSJ™]

The last mission of the Shuttle Atlantis is on the way.   

How Big Is the International Space Station?... ******* big!

[DSJ™]

Space shuttle Atlantis has just cleared the launch tower in this image, taken May 14, 2010. The successful launch marked the final planned liftoff of the 25-year-old shuttle and the start of the STS-132 mission to the ISS. Credit: collectSPACE.com



Space shuttle Atlantis soars to orbit from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the STS-132 mission to the International Space Station at 2:20 p.m. EDT on May 14. The third of five shuttle missions planned for 2010, this was the last planned launch for Atlantis. Credit: NASA/Kenny Allen.

[DSJ™]

Atlantis... retired! 

Atlantis returns from final space mission

Shuttles for sale: Less than 130 million miles, new paint



Space shuttle Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA TV.



Atlantis and the STS-132 landed at 8:48 a.m. EDT at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after delivering the Russian Rassvet module to the International Space Station.

T-Minus 2 launches & counting!