Soichi Noguchi

Douglas Wheelock, who is orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station, sent a message from his Twitter account, @Astro_Wheels, saying he had "unlocked the 'NASA Explorer Badge'" on Foursquare.

Douglas Wheelock, who is orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station, sent a message from his Twitter account, @Astro_Wheels, saying he had "unlocked the 'NASA Explorer Badge'" on Foursquare.

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft on Wednesday brought a Russian cosmonaut and US and Japanese astronauts safely back to Earth on the steppe of Kazakhstan after a five-and-a-half month stay in space.

KOROLYOV, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian Soyuz spacecraft containing an international trio of astronauts who oversaw the final assembly stage of a $100 billion space station landed safely on Kazakhstan's steppe on Wednesday.

Russian space capsule with 3 astronauts from space station lands in Kazakhstan. A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts back from a five-month mission on the International Space Station landed early Wednesday in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

New U.S.-Russian space crew qualify for their mission. The next U.S.-Russian crew for the international space station said Monday they are fully ready for their mission even though they initially flunked one of their tests.

Shuttle Atlantis undocks from space station after week together to deliver new room, batteries. After a week of flying together, shuttle Atlantis undocked from a larger and virtually completed International Space Station on Sunday and headed for home on its final voyage.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station Sunday to deliver a new Russian module and spare parts needed to keep the outpost operational after two final shuttle visits this year.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station Sunday to deliver a new Russian module and spare parts needed to keep the outpost operational after two final shuttle visits this year.

Atlantis arrives at space station, astronauts may try to fix pinched cable in spacewalk. Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday for what could be its last visit, delivering fresh batteries and other equipment to help keep the outpost running long after the shuttle program ends.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station Sunday to deliver a new Russian module and spare parts needed to keep the outpost operational after two final shuttle visits this year.

Discovery made a safe return to Earth Tuesday after a two-week resupply mission to the International Space Station that broke new ground by putting four women in orbit for the first time.

Discovery made a safe return to Earth on Tuesday after a two-week resupply mission to the International Space Station that broke new ground by putting four women in orbit for the first time.

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery embarked on Saturday on their journey back to Earth after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA said.

The Discovery crew began to deliver supplies to the International Space Station on Thursday and prepared for the mission's first spacewalk a day after the US space shuttle docked with the orbiting station.

The latest creation by Japanese fashion designer Tae Ashida is truly out of this world -- an outfit twinning a blue cardigan and shorts made for astronaut Naoko Yamazaki.

The crew of the US shuttle Discovery were welcomed with hugs and handshakes Wednesday aboard the International Space Station after a successful docking high over the Caribbean.

The US space shuttle Discovery successfully linked up with the International Space Station Wednesday, easing into a docking node.

The US space shuttle Discovery successfully linked up with the International Space Station Wednesday, easing into a docking node.

The US space shuttle Discovery blasted off Monday toward the International Space Station for a historic mission that put more women in orbit than ever.