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• Unidentified object seen behind space shuttle: NASA

  - 2008-06-13

  WASHINGTON AFP — Astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery spotted an unidentified object floating behind the craft, as well as a bump on the shuttle rudder, the US space agency said Friday. "After completing a standard day-before-landing test of the shuttle steering jets, the crew indicated they had seen...

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• Discovery undocks from ISS

  - 2008-06-11

  WASHINGTON AFP — The US space shuttle Discovery successfully undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday at 1142 GMT ahead of its return to Earth set for Saturday, NASA said. The undocking, carried out on schedule, took place 344 kilometers (214 miles) above the South Pacific east of Australia....

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• Shuttle astronauts bid farewell to space station crew

  - 2008-06-10

  WASHINGTON AFP — The seven astronauts of the US shuttle Discovery bid farewell Tuesday to their three colleagues at the International Space Station after a busy mission to install Japan's first space laboratory. The hatches between the two spacecraft were shut at 2042 GMT after the six US astronauts...

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• Astronauts test Japanese robotic arm

  - 2008-06-09

  WASHINGTON AFP — Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide put the robotic arm of the Japanese Kibo module through its paces Monday before stowing it away, as the shuttle Discovery crew completed its mission at the International Space Station. Hoshide extended the 10.06-meter (33-foot) metallic arm and tested all its six...

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• Space shuttle blastoff damaged launch pad: NASA

  - 2008-06-02

  WASHINGTON AFP — Bricks and mortar blew off the US space shuttle's launch pad during its weekend liftoff, without damaging the orbiter but causing concern for future missions, NASA said Monday. An investigative team was formed to look into the damage and come up with options for the shuttle's...

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• NASA sets date for shuttle's final repair trip to Hubble

  - 2008-05-22

  WASHINGTON AFP — Space shuttle Atlantis will embark on the final repair and maintenance mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on October 8, instead of the end of August as planned, NASA announced Thursday. The US space agency also fixed November 10 as the date for the launch of...

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• ISS astronauts take rest day after setting up giant robot

  - 2008-03-19

  WASHINGTON AFP — Astronauts aboard the International Space Station settled in for a rest day Wednesday after three lengthy spacewalks and a day readying the Dextre robot for work outside the station. Astronauts used the station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, to manipulate Canadian-built, 200-million-dollar Dextre into place attached to the...

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• Shuttle Endeavour blasts off carrying Japanese lab to space station

  - 2008-03-11

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida AFP — Space shuttle Endeavour soared into space Tuesday, carrying parts of a Japanese laboratory that is to become the largest and last research module of the International Space Station. With its installation Japan gains a foothold on the ISS alongside the United States, Russia and...

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• Shuttle Endeavour blasts off carrying Japanese lab to space station

  - 2008-03-11

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida AFP — Space shuttle Endeavour soared into space Tuesday, carrying parts of a Japanese laboratory that is to become the largest and last research module of the International Space Station. With its installation Japan gains a foothold on the ISS alongside the United States, Russia and...

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• NASA confirms next shuttle launch March 11

  - 2008-02-29

  WASHINGTON AFP — US space agency NASA confirmed it would launch the shuttle Endeavour on March 11 to deliver part of a Japanese space laboratory to an orbiting station, according to a statement Friday. "We're right on the timeline," said Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director. "Endeavour is doing...

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