archive
In Russia, Space Ride For U.S. Spurs Nostalgia, Hope
July 15, 2011 With the conclusion of NASA's space shuttle program, American astronauts will rely solely on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to reach orbit. Many Russians see this as an opportunity to create a smooth, collaborative future between Russia and the U.S. But not everyone sees it that way.
Monkey See
The Space Shuttle Is Dead, Long Live The Space Shuttle!
July 15, 2011 The space shuttle may be gone, but it's not likely to be forgotten — not if Hollywood has anything to do with it. Over the course of the last 30 years, the shuttle has shown up repeatedly on the Silver Screen.
The Two-Way
NASA Holds Cookout In Space, Plays REM Song
July 14, 2011 With Atlantis paying a visit to the International Space Station on the last mission of the space shuttle program, NASA thought it was a good time for a cookout... in space. The 10 astronauts on the two linked spacecraft will enjoy a special "all-American meal" today.
Out Of This World: Designs Of The Space Age
July 14, 2011 From kitchenware to office parks, the Space Age left a sleekly modern mark on the country's landscape and imagination. As the space shuttle soars through the firmament for the very last time, we appreciate some landmarks of futuristic, outer space-inspired architecture.
Exploring Space, Unearthing Human Emotions
July 13, 2011 Tell Me More's series "Flying High: First In Their Class" reflects on some of the famous firsts that the space shuttle program produced. In this third installment, host Michel Martin speaks with Ellen Ochoa, whose accomplishments as the first Latina astronaut have inspired Hispanic youth to explore science in school.
Praying Toward Mecca ... In Outer Space
July 12, 2011 Tell Me More's series "Flying High: The First In Their Class" reflects on some of the famous firsts that the space shuttle program produced. In this second installment, host Michel Martin speaks with Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, the first Arab, the first Muslim and the first member of royalty to go to space.
The Picture Show
A Launch Photo 30 Years In The Making
July 12, 2011 A photo composite shows a father and son at the first and last shuttle launch.
The Picture Show
The Astronaut's Guide To Life In Space
July 12, 2011 An "instructional" video shows how astronauts have fun in space.
Shuttle Rethink: Carrying People, And Cargo
July 12, 2011 The shuttle's triangular shape has represented manned space flight for the past 30 years. But if it were to be built today, the shuttle would likely be entirely different. For starters, it would carry either people or cargo — but not both.
Shuttle Program's Next Trip: To The Museum
July 11, 2011 With the space shuttle down to its final mission, items from the NASA program are destined to become exhibits in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The person curating those artifacts will be Valerie Neal, who first worked with NASA in 1980.
The Picture Show
Blast From The Past: Your Shuttle Stories
July 10, 2011 We asked, and you shared your photos and memories with us. From the first launch to the last, here are some of your stories.
Shuttle Legacy: Grand, Though Not What Was Planned
July 9, 2011 When the space shuttle program began more than 30 years ago, it was billed as "our biggest bargain in out-of-this-world research." Flights never became as routine or cheap as NASA had initially envisioned. Still, many say the shuttle fulfilled its promise of being a reusable spacecraft.
From The Movies, Lessons On Privatizing Outer Space
July 8, 2011 If commercial ventures pick up where the space shuttle program leaves off, what will outer space look like? Bob Mondello says they might take a lesson from Hollywood, which has already boldly gone where no company has gone before.
13.7: Cosmos And Culture
The Inspiration Gap And The Shuttle's Last Launch
July 8, 2011 Inspiration is difficult to measure and even more difficult to price. But, as I have seen, it's the root of our excellence in science.
T-Minus One Last Time For America's Spaceship
July 8, 2011 Friday's dramatic launch of Atlantis — the final liftoff for a shuttle — sets the stage for years of suspense and debate over NASA's direction. Once Atlantis returns, the U.S. is likely to go at least four years before it once again has its own means to fly astronauts to space.
