Space Shuttle Launch
Nasa to Bring Sun Into Third Dimension
Two spacecrafts have been launched from the same rocket for the first time in a mission to capture the first three-dimensional images of the sun.
Launch of Inflatable Spacecraft Brings Dream of Orbiting Hotel Closer to Reality
Robert Bigelow, the Las Vegas property magnate and space entrepreneur, moved a step closer to his dream of opening an orbiting space hotel yesterday.
Astronauts Carry Out Shuttle Inspection
Discovery's astronauts were completing an intricate inspection of the space shuttle's vulnerable heat shield last night to back up Nasa's initial assessment that the spectacular Independence Day launch caused no significant damage.
Blastoff: Discovery's July 4 Gift to the Nation
· Spacecraft's fiery flourish for Independence Day · Relief at Nasa after days of safety worries and delays
Shuttle Launch Could Be Called Off
Tomorrow's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery could be called off because of a 20cm crack in the insulation covering its fuel tank, Nasa revealed today.
Safety Fears Threaten More Delay to Launch of Discovery
Nasa was facing the possibility of another humiliating delay to its space shuttle programme last night after safety inspectors found a large crack and a missing chunk in the insulation foam of Discovery's external fuel tank as it stood on the launch pad.
Thunderstorms Halt Shuttle Launch Again
The space shuttle Discovery is set to make an Independence Day launch tomorrow after thunderstorms in Florida last night caused the lift-off to be scrubbed for a second consecutive day.
Shuttle Launch to Go Ahead Despite Risk of 'catastrophic' Faults
· Decision ignores advice of safety officer and engineer · Failure could jeopardise space station programme
Nasa Accused of Breaking Safety Rules in Rush to Launch Discovery
Nasa compromised safety in an attempt to meet unrealistic launch dates for the space shuttle Discovery, according to a report by some members of a taskforce appointed by the space agency to monitor safety.
Discovery Blasts Off Into Space
With a faulty fuel gauge fixed, the US today launched its first manned space flight since the February 2003 Columbia disaster.
Nasa Ready to Bend Shuttle Safety Rules
Discovery launch to go ahead despite unresolved technical fault.
Space Shuttle Fault Haunts Nasa
Nasa's beleaguered engineers were still trying to find out how to get the shuttle Discovery back into space last night as the questions continued to be raised over its aborted launch.
Fault Forces Nasa to Call Off Shuttle Launch
America's plans to get back into space suffered a humiliating blow last night when the launch of the shuttle Discovery was cancelled two hours before its scheduled lift-off.
Shuttle Launch Delayed
Nasa has called off today's launch of the space shuttle Discovery because of a faulty fuel tank sensor.
Nasa Begins Countdown to First Shuttle Since Columbia Disaster
Nasa controllers last night set the countdown clock ticking to the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster.
Mars or Bust
Focus: This week's launch of the Discovery space shuttle is the first since the horrific crash of its predecessor, Columbia. Is America's space programme doomed? Report by Paul Harris and Robin McKie.
Discovery Launch Delayed
Nasa scientists yesterday postponed the launch of the space shuttle Discovery until July, saying they were concerned about a possible recurrence of the problem that contributed to the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003.
SpaceShipOne Blasts Off on Second Journey
The private spaceship on which Sir Richard Branson is pinning his dream of a galactic tourism industry today blasted into space for the second time. SpaceShipOne - making the trip as part of the quest for a $10m (£5.5m) prize - was launched, attached to a jet, at from Mohave airport,...
Space Travel Gets Solar-powered
US and Russian scientists are planning the ultimate in fuel-economy travel: they hope to launch a space sailing ship driven only by the pressure of sunlight later this year. Cosmos 1, an unfurled fan of 15 metre sails, each far thinner than a dustbin bag but stiffened and coated with...
European Space Probe Heads for Comet
The European Space Agency today launched its Rosetta probe on a 10-year voyage to chase a comet through space and explore its surface, in a mission aimed at unlocking the secrets of the beginnings of the solar system. An Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Rosetta lifted off from the Guiana...
China Starts Space Flight Countdown
China yesterday began the countdown towards its first manned space mission, announcing a three-day launch window from next Wednesday for the Shenzhou V (Divine Vessel). Confirmation of the date, which like most other aspects of the programme has been a closely guarded secret, is expected...
Brazilian space rocket blast kills 16
A space rocket exploded on its launchpad last night, days before its planned flight, killing at least 16 people and delivering a massive setback to Brazil's ambitions in space.
How Warning Signs Were Ignored Before Disaster Shuttle's Launch
As Nasa braces itself for the official report into the Columbia tragedy, The Observer reveals how budget cuts hit vital safety measures.
Beijing's first man in space 'this year'
China announced yesterday its intention to launch its first manned spacecraft later this year. While its latest unmanned test capsule Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) IV, launched three days earlier, was still circling the globe, officials confirmed that the next flight would carry at least one astronaut.
New Launch Spells Giant Leap for China
China has moved closer to its first manned space flight after yesterday's successful launch of an unpiloted craft for seven days of tests in orbit. The Shenzhou IV (Divine Vessel) blasted off soon after midnight local time in the Gobi desert, north-western China, before an audience of...
Russians say no space odyssey for boy band star
It was meant to be the most expensive public relations stunt in history, launching a boy band singer into orbit for a one-off appearance at the International Space Station.
European Space Watch on Climate
European space scientists were preparing last night to launch the latest in flying thermometers - an instrument to take the temperature of the planet.
Second space tourist lifts off
The world's second space tourist lifted off today in a Russian rocket from the Baikonur launchpad in Central Asia, heading for the International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Atlantis Heads Into Orbit
US space shuttle Atlantis lifted off last night from Florida on its mission to international space station Alpha, despite last-minute computer problems that almost delayed the launch. With the launch, astronaut Jerry Ross became the first person to fly into space seven times...
Discovery's astronauts were completing an intricate inspection of the space shuttle's vulnerable heat shield last night to back up Nasa's initial assessment that the spectacular Independence Day launch caused no significant damage.
Blastoff: Discovery's July 4 Gift to the Nation
· Spacecraft's fiery flourish for Independence Day · Relief at Nasa after days of safety worries and delays
Shuttle Launch Could Be Called Off
Tomorrow's scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery could be called off because of a 20cm crack in the insulation covering its fuel tank, Nasa revealed today.
Safety Fears Threaten More Delay to Launch of Discovery
Nasa was facing the possibility of another humiliating delay to its space shuttle programme last night after safety inspectors found a large crack and a missing chunk in the insulation foam of Discovery's external fuel tank as it stood on the launch pad.
Thunderstorms Halt Shuttle Launch Again
The space shuttle Discovery is set to make an Independence Day launch tomorrow after thunderstorms in Florida last night caused the lift-off to be scrubbed for a second consecutive day.
Shuttle Launch to Go Ahead Despite Risk of 'catastrophic' Faults
· Decision ignores advice of safety officer and engineer · Failure could jeopardise space station programme
Nasa Accused of Breaking Safety Rules in Rush to Launch Discovery
Nasa compromised safety in an attempt to meet unrealistic launch dates for the space shuttle Discovery, according to a report by some members of a taskforce appointed by the space agency to monitor safety.
Discovery Blasts Off Into Space
With a faulty fuel gauge fixed, the US today launched its first manned space flight since the February 2003 Columbia disaster.
Nasa Ready to Bend Shuttle Safety Rules
Discovery launch to go ahead despite unresolved technical fault.
Space Shuttle Fault Haunts Nasa
Nasa's beleaguered engineers were still trying to find out how to get the shuttle Discovery back into space last night as the questions continued to be raised over its aborted launch.
Fault Forces Nasa to Call Off Shuttle Launch
America's plans to get back into space suffered a humiliating blow last night when the launch of the shuttle Discovery was cancelled two hours before its scheduled lift-off.
Shuttle Launch Delayed
Nasa has called off today's launch of the space shuttle Discovery because of a faulty fuel tank sensor.
Nasa Begins Countdown to First Shuttle Since Columbia Disaster
Nasa controllers last night set the countdown clock ticking to the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster.
Mars or Bust
Focus: This week's launch of the Discovery space shuttle is the first since the horrific crash of its predecessor, Columbia. Is America's space programme doomed? Report by Paul Harris and Robin McKie.
Discovery Launch Delayed
Nasa scientists yesterday postponed the launch of the space shuttle Discovery until July, saying they were concerned about a possible recurrence of the problem that contributed to the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003.
SpaceShipOne Blasts Off on Second Journey
The private spaceship on which Sir Richard Branson is pinning his dream of a galactic tourism industry today blasted into space for the second time. SpaceShipOne - making the trip as part of the quest for a $10m (£5.5m) prize - was launched, attached to a jet, at from Mohave airport,...
Space Travel Gets Solar-powered
US and Russian scientists are planning the ultimate in fuel-economy travel: they hope to launch a space sailing ship driven only by the pressure of sunlight later this year. Cosmos 1, an unfurled fan of 15 metre sails, each far thinner than a dustbin bag but stiffened and coated with...
European Space Probe Heads for Comet
The European Space Agency today launched its Rosetta probe on a 10-year voyage to chase a comet through space and explore its surface, in a mission aimed at unlocking the secrets of the beginnings of the solar system. An Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Rosetta lifted off from the Guiana...
China Starts Space Flight Countdown
China yesterday began the countdown towards its first manned space mission, announcing a three-day launch window from next Wednesday for the Shenzhou V (Divine Vessel). Confirmation of the date, which like most other aspects of the programme has been a closely guarded secret, is expected...
Brazilian space rocket blast kills 16
A space rocket exploded on its launchpad last night, days before its planned flight, killing at least 16 people and delivering a massive setback to Brazil's ambitions in space.
How Warning Signs Were Ignored Before Disaster Shuttle's Launch
As Nasa braces itself for the official report into the Columbia tragedy, The Observer reveals how budget cuts hit vital safety measures.
Beijing's first man in space 'this year'
China announced yesterday its intention to launch its first manned spacecraft later this year. While its latest unmanned test capsule Shenzhou (Divine Vessel) IV, launched three days earlier, was still circling the globe, officials confirmed that the next flight would carry at least one astronaut.
New Launch Spells Giant Leap for China
China has moved closer to its first manned space flight after yesterday's successful launch of an unpiloted craft for seven days of tests in orbit. The Shenzhou IV (Divine Vessel) blasted off soon after midnight local time in the Gobi desert, north-western China, before an audience of...
Russians say no space odyssey for boy band star
It was meant to be the most expensive public relations stunt in history, launching a boy band singer into orbit for a one-off appearance at the International Space Station.
European Space Watch on Climate
European space scientists were preparing last night to launch the latest in flying thermometers - an instrument to take the temperature of the planet.
Second space tourist lifts off
The world's second space tourist lifted off today in a Russian rocket from the Baikonur launchpad in Central Asia, heading for the International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Atlantis Heads Into Orbit
US space shuttle Atlantis lifted off last night from Florida on its mission to international space station Alpha, despite last-minute computer problems that almost delayed the launch. With the launch, astronaut Jerry Ross became the first person to fly into space seven times...