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.

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.

Japanese mom selected for space mission

TOKYO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki has been selected as a crew member on NASA's space shuttle Atlantis in 2010.

NASA to televise Endeavour countdown

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it will provide continuous video of space shuttle Endeavour's launch countdown, as well as a feed with commentary.

Butterflies, spiders go into outer space

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- University of Colorado-Boulder scientists are sending a group of butterflies and spiders into space aboard the U.S. space agency's shuttle Endeavour.

NASA announces management change

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says Rick Gilbrech, the associate administrator of its exploration directorate, is leaving NASA for a position in the private sector.

Blind NASA engineer solves Russian problem

GREENBELT, Md., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. space agency team led by a blind engineer built a system to receive data from a Soyuz spacecraft just days after Russia asked for assistance.

NASA awards space flight projects contract

CLEVELAND, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has awarded a $94.5 million space flight projects contract to Zin Technologies Inc. of Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

NASA awards Lockheed another contract

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it's awarded a $667.3 million contract to the Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide integrated support for human spaceflight missions.

Worldwide virtual party planned for NASA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says schools around the world will help it celebrate its 50th birthday next week by holding a virtual party.

Human rights document heads into space

PARIS, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Sixty years after its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is about to journey into space.

NASA announces Endeavour pre-launch events

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency has announced a series of events leading up to the Nov. 14 Kennedy Space Center launch of space shuttle Endeavour.

NASA awards ISS support contract

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has awarded a nearly three-year, $206.5 million spaceflight support contract to United Space Alliance of Houston.