The Long Countdown: Russia Leads Way in Space Tourism With Paid Trips Into Orbit

Oct. 10, 2008

The Russian space program has found ways to make space pay and has shown that it is leading the way toward the commercialization of space travel.

Veteran astronaut Carl Walz leaves NASA

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says one of its veteran astronauts, Carl Walz, is resigning to take an unspecified job in the private sector.

U.S., Russia, extend joint ISS contract

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. and Russian space agencies said they've signed a $141 million modification of their International Space Station contract, extending it into 2012.

ATK to develop STAT for Air Force testing

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has contracted Alliant Techsystems to develop a Space Threat Assessment Testbed that simulates natural space environments.

Endeavour to return to Florida

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says space shuttle Endeavour is being readied to make its cross-country trip back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Endeavour ends two-week mission

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- NASA said the space shuttle Endeavour made a flawless landing in California Sunday, wrapping up a delivery run to the International Space Station.

Astronauts have Thanksgiving in space

HOUSTON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Thanksgiving in space is an unusual place for the traditional feast but it was still turkey, stuffing and yams for U.S. and Russian astronauts, NASA said.

Goodrich, ATK partner on defense satellite

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department has contracted Goodrich Corp. for the company's satellite technologies in support of military units in combat theaters.

Italy heads European Space Agency

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The 18 member states of the European Space Agency plus Canada have decided in the Netherlands that Italy will head the agency until 2011.

Please don't litter space, scientists say

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists are looking for a way to clear the clutter in space, which some say is becoming troublesome on the heavenly highways.

Endeavour to return to Earth Friday

HOUSTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- The crew of space shuttle Endeavour will spend Thanksgiving with the crew of the International Space Station, NASA said Tuesday.

Astronauts work on urine recycler

HOUSTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. astronauts aboard the International Space Station worked Sunday to fix the newly arrived urine distillation equipment, NASA officials said.

Tool bag, spider lost in space

HOUSTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A tool bag floated away in space as U.S. astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper worked outside the International Space Station Tuesday.

Space station crew welcomes shuttle crew

HOUSTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The crews of the Endeavour and International Space Station got together after the U.S. space shuttle docked Sunday afternoon, NASA said.

Urine recycler part of shuttle cargo

HOUSTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour is delivering a toilet upgrade for the U.S. Destiny lab on the International Space Station, NASA says.

Space shuttle Endeavour launches

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The space shuttle Endeavour launched Friday evening from Cape Canaveral, Fla., carrying a payload of equipment for the International Space Station.