Topic: Space Shuttle Columbia
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Beyond SpaceX: Five companies seeking to change space travel
During the past 10 years, Presidents George W. Bush and Obama have directed NASA to turn the job of transporting cargo and crew to the space station over to the private sector. As that process gathers pace, here is a list of the key players.
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Falling satellite: 10 times space junk has crashed into Earth
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The 9 weirdest things ever flown on the Space Shuttle
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Sunsets
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: John Glenn
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The Monitor's View: Texas toasts but will it conserve?
The Lone Start State is breaking heat and drought records this summer, with no end in sight. But it's record on conserving water is so-so at best.
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Space shuttle era ends, leaving big void for area firms
Space shuttle missions were a boon to businesses around Cape Canaveral, Fla. With the space shuttle era over, they're banking on cruise ships and other tourist draws.
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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:
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Atlantis launch successful, historic final shuttle mission underway
Atlantis launch: Despite a bleak forecast of thunderstorms and clouds, the shuttle beat the weather in a stunning midday launch, sailing into the sky on one final voyage.
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Space shuttle Endeavour on terra firma, ending 19 years as orbiter
A flawless predawn landing on Wednesday capped the penultimate flight of the US space shuttle program. With Endeavor's mission over, Atlantis is already on the launch pad.
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Why Obama rejected John Glenn's plea to save the space shuttle progam
In a 40-minute plea at the White House to save the US space shuttle, John Glenn said that relying on the Russians to get US astronauts into space was a mistake. Why did President Obama turn him down?
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Endeavour flight: the NASA shuttle launch that disappeared
Endeavour flight watchers, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, were able to watch the picture-perfect NASA shuttle launch Monday for only 12 seconds because of an unusual situation.
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After the space shuttle, astronaut corps awaits a new mission
NASA's once-iconic astronaut corps will shrink but still play a vital role as the space shuttle era comes to an end.
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Milestones in U.S. manned spaceflight
A timeline of significant moments in America's quest to reach for the stars.
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Sunsets
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Space shuttle launch canceled again
Space shuttle launch: the shuttle Endeavour will not launch this week. Canceled first on Friday and rescheduled for Monday, the shuttle Endeavour has been canceled again, due to mechanical problems.
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Yuri Gagarin, Space Shuttle anniversaries celebrated on ISS
Yuri Gagarin and the Space Shuttle: Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of man's first journey into space and the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch.
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: John Glenn
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Ode to Discovery: Space shuttle ends a successful mission, career
Space shuttle Discovery taxied to a stop at Kennedy Space Center just before noon Wednesday, ending a triumphant 13-day mission and 27-year career.
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What time is space shuttle Discovery set to land?
Space shuttle Discovery, returning to Earth Wednesday from its last mission, is expected to land in Florida just before noon Eastern Standard Time. Mission managers laud a nearly flawless flight.
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Space shuttle Discovery wraps up mission that went 'above and beyond'
The space shuttle Discovery left the International Space Station behind having done everything it was scheduled to do and more. It is set to land Wednesday.
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Tumbling foam during Discovery takeoff was harmless, says initial investigation
Post-Columbia inspection methods show that foam seen tumbling along Discovery's tiles – and apparently hitting twice – caused only cosmetic damage, say NASA engineers.
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For shuttle Discovery, a picture-perfect launch after months of delays
After a photogenic lift-off, the space shuttle Discovery and its crew headed toward the International Space Station. The crew will inspect the orbiter's tiles after some insulating foam fell late in the ascent.
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Final shuttle launch for Discovery: Was shuttle program worth it?
For 30 years, the space shuttle launch has served as the centerpiece of the US space program. But Feb. 24 will mark the last shuttle launch of Discovery, with the final flight of Endeavour to follow in April and – if there's enough money – Atlantis's last flight of the entire program in June. Here are five questions about what the shuttles have – and haven't – accomplished.
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In Pictures: Exploring Mars with Curiosity
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: The Sun
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Horizon
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In Pictures: Space Photos of the Day: Blast off
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In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Fireworks
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New year's mission at NASA: repair new cracks on Discovery fuel tank
After months of repairs, inspections, and more repairs, NASA technicians have a new crop of cracks on the fuel tank of the shuttle Discovery to keep them busy over New Year's weekend.
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