Kennedy Space Center news stories on Newser

For Rent: Slightly Used Space Shuttle Launchpad

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:50:05 CST

Wondering where to park your space shuttle? Consider Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center. "We’re putting out the word officially and unofficially that Kennedy Space Center is open for business," says a chief architect at the facility. "I have a lot of facilities that we, NASA, no longer need," adds Kennedy’s...

Up to 1M Gather for Final Shuttle Launch

Mark Russell — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:53:15 CDT

Up to 1 million people are converging on Cape Canaveral to see the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, surprising many with such a level of interest in the 30-year-old space program. A 50-mile traffic jam from the Kennedy Space Center to Orlando is expected today, despite the 70% chance...

Shuttle Worker Falls to His Death

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:39:33 CDT

A worker preparing the space shuttle Endeavour for its April 19 launch fell to his death from a launch pad access arm today, according to NASA. Emergency crews at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral tried to revive James Vanover, a United Space Alliance worker, but were unsuccessful. Work at...

NASA Forced to Spend $500M on Canceled Rocket Program

Mark Russell — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:54:09 CST

Thanks to congressional inaction, NASA is being forced to spend $500 million on canceled projects—but can't begin much-needed modernization programs, reports the Orlando Sentinel . NASA's Constellation program, designed to return people to the moon, was canceled earlier this year by President Obama. But lawmakers inserted language into the budget...

Up for Grabs: Free* Space Shuttle *$29M Postage & Handling Required

Rob Quinn — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:23:51 CDT

NASA is preparing to give away its space shuttle fleet to institutions willing to cough up $28.8 million per spacecraft for cleaning and transportation. Atlantis will be retired after returning from its final mission today and some two dozen museums and other institutions around the country are vying to...

Discovery Lands Safely in Fla.

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:36:46 CDT

Space shuttle Discovery is back on Earth. The shuttle and its seven astronauts landed at Florida's Kennedy Space Center this morning, an arrival delayed by rain that popped up right before daybreak. But the sky cleared and Mission Control was able to bring Discovery home. Rain also thwarted yesterday's tries.

Obama Says of the Moon: Been There, Done That

John Johnson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:43:49 CDT

President Obama insisted today that he's "100% committed" to NASA and future space missions. But the moon is old news, and it's time to think bigger. "We've been there before," he said at Kennedy Space Center, unswayed by critics who say his vision will bring an end to manned spaceflights....

Clouds Delay Last Nighttime Shuttle Launch

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:00:28 CST

Clouds prevented space shuttle Endeavour from blasting off this morning on the last planned nighttime shuttle launch, delaying its trip with a final few building blocks for the International Space Station. Launch time was re-scheduled for 4:14am tomorrow. It's expected to be the last shuttle launch in darkness; only...

Shuttle Atlantis Back Home

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:09:07 CST

Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts are back on Earth. The shuttle landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida this morning, swooping through a clear sky. The touchdown ended an 11-day flight in which the astronauts spent time stockpiling the International Space Station with big spare parts.