The Write Stuff

Astronaut completes spacewalk waiting for baby

Robert Block — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:47:02 -0500

By Marcia Dunn Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL — A spacewalking astronaut put aside the impending birth of his daughter and blazed through his first-ever venture outside the International Space Station on Saturday. Expectant father Randolph Bresnik and Michael Foreman were...

Atlantis' spacewalkers step into the void waiting for baby news

Robert Block — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:58:22 -0500

CAPE CANAVERAL - An astronaut anticipating the imminent birth of his daughter embarked on the first spacewalk of his career Saturday, tackling a load of maintenance work outside the International Space Station. Randolph Bresnik stepped into the void at 9:31...

Congress (at least some of it) stands behind Constellation

Mark Matthews — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:21:44 -0500

WASHINGTON -- Two NASA allies in Congress dug in their heels Thursday and said that the agency should continue with its troubled Constellation program and not rely on global partners to access space after the shuttle is retired in 2010....

Astronauts make first spacewalk of shuttle Atlantis mission

Robert Block — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:22:01 -0500

UPDATE: Spacewalkers Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher churned through their tasks outside the space station and then did some get ahead work. Here is the latest from my colleague Marcia Dunn of the Associated Press. RB CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) —...

Hatches open and shuttle and space station crews get to work

Robert Block — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:06:57 -0500

Hatches between space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station were opened at 1:28 p.m.,and now there are 12 people aboard the orbiting outpost. The six shuttle astronauts floated into the station and exchanged hugs and handshakes with the six...

Space shuttle Atlantis docks to station after a graceful back-flip

Robert Block — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:24:31 -0500

After performing a brilliant aerobatic back-flip 220 miles above Earth, space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of six astronauts successfully docked with the International Space Station Wednesday. Shuttle commander Charlie “Scorch” Hobaugh, a veteran test pilot, guided the shuttle toward...

Crew inspects space shuttle Atlantis

Robert Block — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:54:38 -0500

CAPE CANAVERAL, (AP) — Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts scoured their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage while pursuing the International Space Station. Atlantis and its crew of six will hook up with the space station Wednesday. The shuttle...

Atlantis blasts off in flawless launch - NASA's future: Not as flawless

Matthew Simantov — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:56:53 -0500

By Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews Sentinel Staff Writers CAPE CANAVERAL - Space shuttle Atlantis roared into orbit at 2:28 pm on Monday, arching through light clouds to begin an 11-day mission to the International Space Station and bringing...

Video: Watch the space shuttle Atlantis STS-129 launch

Matthew Simantov — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:57:01 -0500

3 foam events during launch, none are of concern

Matthew Simantov — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:39:11 -0500

NASA Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier said in the post-launch press conference that there were 3 foam events encountered during launch, but they occurred too late to be of concern. The first event occurred at the 2:55 mark, the next two...