NPR Series: NASA's Return to Space https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5524867 Discovery makes a perfect landing in Florida, marking the end of a 13-day trip to the International Space Station. With a successful mission under the belt, NASA officials hope the human space flight program is back on track. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:03:10 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: NASA's Return to Space https://www.npr.org/series/5524867/nasa-s-return-to-space Mustard Plants to Boldly Grow Where… On board the space shuttle that lifted off July 4 was a black plastic briefcase marked "Critical." Inside were 600 seeds that scientist John Kiss hopes will help scientists figure out which crops grow well in space. Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:43:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/24/5578832/mustard-plants-to-boldly-grow-where https://www.npr.org/2006/07/24/5578832/mustard-plants-to-boldly-grow-where On board the space shuttle that lifted off July 4 was a black plastic briefcase marked "Critical." Inside were 600 seeds that scientist John Kiss hopes will help scientists figure out which crops grow well in space.

]]> Kelly Reeves Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Florida The space shuttle Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space Center after a successful visit to the International Space Station. NASA now turns its attention to the launch of Atlantis. That mission may go as early as Aug. 27 and will haul a major addition to the space station. Mon, 17 Jul 2006 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/17/5562013/space-shuttle-discovery-returns-to-florida https://www.npr.org/2006/07/17/5562013/space-shuttle-discovery-returns-to-florida

The space shuttle Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space Center after a successful visit to the International Space Station. NASA now turns its attention to the launch of Atlantis. That mission may go as early as Aug. 27 and will haul a major addition to the space station.

(Image credit: Stan Honda)

]]> Renee Montagne Shuttle Astronauts Do Back-Flip to Get to Work The astronauts of the shuttle Discovery spent the third day of their mission moving tons of cargo into the International Space Station. They docked at the station after putting the shuttle through a back-flip. But the astronauts say they first had to overcome a snag: a bad thermostat on a thruster. Fri, 07 Jul 2006 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/07/5542002/shuttle-astronauts-do-back-flip-to-get-to-work https://www.npr.org/2006/07/07/5542002/shuttle-astronauts-do-back-flip-to-get-to-work The astronauts of the shuttle Discovery spent the third day of their mission moving tons of cargo into the International Space Station. They docked at the station after putting the shuttle through a back-flip. But the astronauts say they first had to overcome a snag: a bad thermostat on a thruster.

]]> Shuttle Discovery Drops Supplies at Space Station The space shuttle Discovery is dropping off supplies and a new crew member at the International Space Station, one day after docking at the facility. Discovery is also being inspected for damage from launch. Fri, 07 Jul 2006 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/07/5540312/shuttle-discovery-drops-supplies-at-space-station https://www.npr.org/2006/07/07/5540312/shuttle-discovery-drops-supplies-at-space-station The space shuttle Discovery is dropping off supplies and a new crew member at the International Space Station, one day after docking at the facility. Discovery is also being inspected for damage from launch.

]]> Christopher Joyce One Astronaut's Personal Journey in Space Program Among the seven-member crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery is Stephanie Wilson, only the second African-American woman to travel into space. NASA Mission Specialist Alvin Drew is a black astronaut on the waiting list for a space flight. He speaks with Ed Gordon about Discovery's mission and his personal journey through the space program. Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/06/5537872/one-astronauts-personal-journey-in-space-program https://www.npr.org/2006/07/06/5537872/one-astronauts-personal-journey-in-space-program Among the seven-member crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery is Stephanie Wilson, only the second African-American woman to travel into space. NASA Mission Specialist Alvin Drew is a black astronaut on the waiting list for a space flight. He speaks with Ed Gordon about Discovery's mission and his personal journey through the space program.

]]> Shuttle Makes Historic Independence Day Launch Space shuttle Discovery's successful launch Tuesday was the first shuttle launch ever on the Fourth of July. It was only the second flight since the loss of the shuttle Columbia and its crew in 2003. Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/05/5534276/shuttle-makes-historic-independence-day-launch https://www.npr.org/2006/07/05/5534276/shuttle-makes-historic-independence-day-launch Space shuttle Discovery's successful launch Tuesday was the first shuttle launch ever on the Fourth of July. It was only the second flight since the loss of the shuttle Columbia and its crew in 2003.

]]> Nell Greenfieldboyce Shuttle Discovery Launches After Delays The Space Shuttle Discovery roared off its Florida launch pad Tuesday, NASA'S first Independence Day manned shuttle launch in its history. The voyage to the International Space Station was postponed twice over the weekend due to bad weather. Engineers decided to launch the shuttle despite the discovery Monday of a pencil-sized piece of foam that cracked off the external fuel tank. Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5533053/shuttle-discovery-launches-after-delays https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5533053/shuttle-discovery-launches-after-delays The Space Shuttle Discovery roared off its Florida launch pad Tuesday, NASA'S first Independence Day manned shuttle launch in its history. The voyage to the International Space Station was postponed twice over the weekend due to bad weather. Engineers decided to launch the shuttle despite the discovery Monday of a pencil-sized piece of foam that cracked off the external fuel tank.

]]> Is the Space Shuttle Worth the Effort? Former NASA employee Keith Cowing is the editor of nasawatch.com, and co-author of a book with journalist Frank Sietzen on the remaking of the space agency (<em>New Moon Rising</em>). Is there a good argument to be made to drop the space shuttle program? Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532600/is-the-space-shuttle-worth-the-effort https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532600/is-the-space-shuttle-worth-the-effort Former NASA employee Keith Cowing is the editor of nasawatch.com, and co-author of a book with journalist Frank Sietzen on the remaking of the space agency (New Moon Rising). Is there a good argument to be made to drop the space shuttle program?

]]> NASA Set for Third Attempt at Shuttle Launch The shuttle Discovery is due to lift off from Cape Canaveral Tuesday afternoon. NASA says a crack found in the foam insulation around the shuttle's fuel tank will not delay the July 4 launch, though weather might. Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532597/nasa-set-for-third-attempt-at-shuttle-launch https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532597/nasa-set-for-third-attempt-at-shuttle-launch The shuttle Discovery is due to lift off from Cape Canaveral Tuesday afternoon. NASA says a crack found in the foam insulation around the shuttle's fuel tank will not delay the July 4 launch, though weather might.

]]> Madeleine Brand Independence Day Shuttle Launch Is a Go After a day of inspections and debates over safety following the discovery of a crack in the foam insulation of the shuttle's fuel tank, officials decided the launch was a go and the shuttle soars off on its mission. Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:13:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532734/independence-day-shuttle-launch-is-a-go https://www.npr.org/2006/07/04/5532734/independence-day-shuttle-launch-is-a-go After a day of inspections and debates over safety following the discovery of a crack in the foam insulation of the shuttle's fuel tank, officials decided the launch was a go and the shuttle soars off on its mission.

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