Topic: Michael Massimino

The 9 weirdest things ever flown on the Space Shuttle

When NASA's space shuttles launch into orbit, they don't just carry astronauts and supplies into the final frontier. There's a lot of other weird stuff that makes the out-of-this-world journey, too. NASA's last space shuttle mission will launch Friday, July 8 on the Atlantis orbiter to deliver spare parts to the International Space Station. The mission will be the 135th and last flight for the program, which began in 1981. But over the course of 30 years, the space shuttles have flown some peculiar objects into orbit. The list of odd stuff that flew aboard the shuttles is a long one, and includes the Olympic torch, a replica of the golden spike from the First Transcontinental Railroad, and rocks from the top of Mount Everest and the surface of the moon, just to name a few. Here nine recent space oddities carried into orbit on NASA shuttles:
07/08/2011 03:53 pm

In Pictures Space photos of the day 08/27

In Pictures Space photos of the day 06/29

Iron Maiden takes Flight of Icarus in NASA's space shuttle simulator

Iron Maiden invaded NASA's astronaut headquarters this month for an all-access look at how Americans practice for flying in space.
06/23/2010 03:16 pm

Horizons Atlantis astronauts stay in orbit; dream of pizza

05/22/2009 01:00 am

Final spacewalk leaves like-new Hubble ready for its final bow

Astronauts made all the needed repairs, giving the telescope five to 10 more years of life.
05/19/2009 01:00 am

One small (space) step for Hubble

Astronauts make a giant leap toward repairing the telescope in the first of five spacewalks.
05/15/2009 01:00 am

Discoveries NASA's Mr. Fixits give Hubble Space Telescope life-prolonging hardware

05/15/2009 01:00 am

Shuttle's risky mission to repair Hubble

With custom-made tools and a rescue plan, the seven-member crew of the Atlantis aim to upgrade the iconic telescope.
05/11/2009 01:00 am