Atlantis launched, and docked with ISS

[Rick]

Atlantis heads for space at last

NASA managed to get Shuttle off the ground yesterday, and in the nick of time too. Any later and they'd have had to postpone the launch to avoid messing up the Russians' schedule for visiting the International Space Station.

And while debris did fall from the craft during the launch, engineers who reviewed the launch footage say no damage was done. Wayne Hale, the Shuttle program boss, said the debris was "nothing of any remote consequence".

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/11/shuttle_up/

Shuttle docks with space station

The space shuttle Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station, completing a crucial step in its 11-day mission to the orbiting outpost.

Commander Brent Jett first had to flip the shuttle on its back so ISS crew could scan its underside for damage.

Then, he slowly aligned the spacecraft with the docking port and achieved a perfect link-up at 1048 GMT (0648 EDT).

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5331670.stm

[Rick]

Plenty more stories on the current mission. For example:

Two US astronauts have completed a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS).

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Joe Tanner wired up a new $372m (£293m) addition, which will provide power, data and communication services.

A bolt, spring and washer floated free during the work, and Nasa is examining whether it could cause problems.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5337994.stm

Astronauts have completed another spacewalk, the second of the Atlantis shuttle's visit to the International Space Station (ISS).

Canadian Steve MacLean and US colleague Dan Burbank completed tasks that will bring into use a new "backbone" segment fitted to the outpost on Monday.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5341586.stm