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Rocket Liftoff Aborted A Half-Second Before Launch

SpaceX rocket Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral in Florida was scheduled to launch Saturday morning, but aborted just before liftoff. Roberto Gonzalez/Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Gonzalez/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Rocket Liftoff Aborted A Half-Second Before Launch

The privately funded, unmanned spacecraft was attempting its first flight to the International Space Station. The spacecraft had a one-second window to take off, and the failed launch means it won't be trying again for at least a few days.

Last Chance Launch: Why I Had To See The Final Shuttle Go

More than a million people were expected in the area around the Kennedy Space Center to watch the launch. Many arrived before sunrise to claim the best seats. Scott Cameron/NPR hide caption

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Scott Cameron/NPR

Opinion

Blog Of The Nation

Last Chance Launch: Why I Had To See The Final Shuttle Go

Until Space Shuttle Atlantis launched two weeks ago, Scott Cameron's most vivid memory of the U.S. space program was a tragedy. When the opportunity arose to finally banish the ghosts of the Challenger disaster, he took it.

NASA Holds Cookout In Space, Plays REM Song

Food packets containing the astronauts' "all-American meal," including (clockwise from top left) corn, chicken, brisket, and beans, along with a lemonade, at right. Devin Boldt/NASA - JSC hide caption

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Devin Boldt/NASA - JSC

The Two-Way

NASA Holds Cookout In Space, Plays REM Song

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.

Opinion

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

The Inspiration Gap And The Shuttle's Last Launch

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.

The Inspiration Gap And The Shuttle's Last Launch

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Atlantis Lifts Off For Last Shuttle Mission

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Morry Gash/AP hide caption

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Morry Gash/AP

The Two-Way

Atlantis Lifts Off For Last Shuttle Mission

The shuttle blasted off almost on time, after concerns about the weather were overcome. Its mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to last 12 days.

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Astronaut Briefly Stranded On Spacewalk: 'How Much Longer?'

Astronaut Steve Bowen works outside the International Space Station's Quest airlock during Monday's spacewalk. Bowen's spacewalk was unexpectedly extended by a computer malfunction. NASA TV hide caption

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NASA TV

The Two-Way

Astronaut Briefly Stranded On Spacewalk: 'How Much Longer?'

Two astronauts from the space shuttle Discovery went on a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station today, a trip that was a few minutes longer than astronaut Steve Bowen would have liked.