Pilot William McCool (L) points at a video camera as Commader Rick Husband (R) sits at the controls of the space shuttle Columbia on the orbiter's flight deck during the final moments of its ill-fated return to earth in this February 1, 2003 video frame grab. There was no way the crew of the Columbia could have survived the loss of their ship, but a NASA report aimed at making future accidents more survivable revealed on December 30, 2008 that their safety harnesses and helmets had failed. Reuters Pictures 6 months ago

Pilot William McCool (L) points at a video camera as Commader Rick Husband (R) sits at the controls of the space shuttle Columbia on the orbiter's flight deck during the final moments of its ill-fated return to earth in this February 1, 2003 video frame grab. There was no way the crew of the Columbia could have survived the loss of their ship, but a NASA report aimed at making future accidents more survivable revealed on December 30, 2008 that their safety harnesses and helmets had failed.

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  1. WASHINGTON - MAY 7: Acting-NASA Administrator Chris Scolese (L) and Comptroller David Schurr prepare for the agency's fiscal year 2010 budget briefing at NASA headquarters May 7, 2009, in Washington, DC. The budget released today foresees the completion of the International Space Station and the retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2010.
  2. This NASA handout photo shows NASA Acting Administrator Chris Scolese(L) and NASA Comptroller David Schurr as they prepare for the NASA fiscal year 2010 Budget Briefing at NASA Headquarters on May 7, 2009, in Washington,DC.
  3. This NASA / MODIS satellite handout file photo taken from space taken on May 3, 2008 and obtained May 6, 2008 shows Cyclone Nargis directly over Myanmar. The first anniversary is approaching on May 2-3, 2009 of when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, a storm which left an estimated 138,000 people dead or missing and affected some 2.4 million people, mostly in the southwest delta region. The UN World Food programme has said that of the one million people who initially needed assistance after the cyclone, 350,000 still need food handouts and 250,000 will continue to do so until the end of 2009.
  4. This NASA / MODIS satellite handout file photo taken from space taken on May 3, 2008 and obtained May 6, 2008 shows Cyclone Nargis directly over Myanmar. The first anniversary is approaching on May 2-3, 2009 of when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, a storm which left an estimated 138,000 people dead or missing and affected some 2.4 million people, mostly in the southwest delta region. The UN World Food programme has said that of the one million people who initially needed assistance after the cyclone, 350,000 still need food handouts and 250,000 will continue to do so until the end of 2009.
  5. In this photo released by NASA, Maryland native and space shuttle STS-119 Mission Specialist, Richard Arnold throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Baltimore Orioles-Los Angeles Angels baseball game, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Pictured, from left, behind Arnold are fellow STS-119 crew members, Tony Antonelli, Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson and John Phillips. Also joining the crew, but not pictured was NASA Astronaut Lee Archambault.
  6. In this photo released by NASA, the STS-119 space shuttle crew, from left, Lee Archambault, Tony Antonelli, Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, John Phillips, and Richard Arnold prepare to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Baltimore Orioles-Los Angeles Angels baseball game, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
  7. This NASA handout image released on April 28, 2009 shows side-by-side images of M33, the ultraviolet image on the left was taken by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, while the ultraviolet and infrared image on the right is a blend of the mission's M33 image and another taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. M33, one of our closest galactic neighbors, is about 2.9 million light-years away in the constellation Triangulum, part of what's known as our Local Group of galaxies.
  8. LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: The cuff mounted checklist worn by NASA astronaut Charles Duke on the surface of the moon is displayed at Bonhams on April 27, 2009 in London, England. Thepiece which is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,00 USD makes up part of an historic collection of space exploration objects to go under the hammer at the auction house on July 16, 2009.
  9. LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: The cuff mounted checklist worn by NASA astronaut Charles Duke on the surface of the moon is displayed at Bonhams on April 27, 2009 in London, England. Thepiece which is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,00 USD makes up part of an historic collection of space exploration objects to go under the hammer at the auction house on July 16, 2009.
  10. LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: The cuff mounted checklist worn by NASA astronaut Charles Duke on the surface of the moon is displayed at Bonhams on April 27, 2009 in London, England. Thepiece which is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,00 USD makes up part of an historic collection of space exploration objects to go under the hammer at the auction house on July 16, 2009.
  11. Alan Ladwig, Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator makes remarks during a tree planting event in honor of Earth Day and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo Program at NASA on April 22, 2009 at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. The tree was grown from a second-generation seed, from seeds flown to the moon and returned to Earth by the crew of Apollo 14 in 1971.
  12. Alan Ladwig (R), Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator makes remarks with Deborah Gangloff, Executive Director of American Forests during a tree planting event in honor of Earth Day and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo Program at NASA on April 22, 2009 at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. The tree was grown from a second-generation seed from seeds flown to the moon and returned to Earth by the crew of Apollo 14 in 1971.
  13. This NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, one of a series made following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 showing a plume of smoke rising from the Manhattan skyline. This image was made by the International Space Station's Expedition 3 crew."The world changed today. What I say or do is very minor compared to the significance of what happened to our country today when it was attacked." So said Expedition 3 Commander Frank L. Culbertson, upon learning of the attack on the World Trade Center. Upon further reflection, Commander Culbertson said, "It's horrible to see smoke pouring from wounds in your own country from such a fantastic vantage point. The dichotomy of being on a spacecraft dedicated to improving life on the earth and watching life being destroyed by such willful, terrible acts is jolting to the psyche, no matter who you are."
  14. This May 23, 2006 NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, shows Mt. Everest and nearby Mt. Makalu in this oblique photograph of the Tibetan Plateau taken from the International Space Station in 2004. It might look like a photo taken from an airplane, until one remembers the summits are at the height typically flown by commercial jets.
  15. This NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, shows the Great Wall of China and Inner Mongolia photographed by Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao on the International Space Station. Despite myths to the contrary, the wall isn't visible from the moon, and is difficult or impossible to see from Earth orbit without the high-powered lenses used for this photo.
  16. This May 23, 2006 NASA image obtained on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, shows a plume of ash from the Cleveland Volcano in Alaska made shortly after Expedition 13 astronaut Jeff Williams contacted the Alaska Volcano Observatory to report the activity. He took this photograph from the International Space Station.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Nashville police gather outside of Steve McNair's apartment in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron confirmed that police were called to the residence and found McNair and a woman shot to death inside. Aaron said authorities don't yet know the circumstances of the shooting.
  2. Portugal's Telma Monteiro celebrates after defeating Japan's Nae Udaka in their under 57kg final at the IJF Grand Slam judo tournament in Rio de Janeiro July 4, 2009.
  3. New York Yankees starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang throws a pitch to the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, July 4, 2009.
  4. Toronto Blue Jays batter Adam Lind follows through as he hits a two-run home run in front of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada (L) in the sixth inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, July 4, 2009.
  5. Supporters of Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya burn a mock coffin during a protest outside Toncontin international airport in Tegucigalpa July 4, 2009. The Organization of American States was likely to suspend Honduras on Saturday after a caretaker government refused to restore Zelaya who was toppled in a military coup last weekend.
  6. Panama's boxer Anselmo Moreno poses with the WBA bantamweight champion belt after beating France's boxer Mayhar Monshipour in Poitier, western France, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Moreno retained his WBA bantamweight title Saturday with a split decision over Monshipour.
  7. Ukrainian boxer Alexander Dimitrenko, is counted out, during the WBO eliminator fight, in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, July 4, 2009.
  8. Panama's boxer Anselmo Moreno, left, lands a right against France's boxer Mayhar Monshipour during their WBA bantamweight boxing match in Poitier, western France, Saturday, July 4, 2009. Moreno retained his WBA bantamweight title Saturday with a split decision over Monshipour.
  9. U.S singer Madonna performs on stage, during her Sticky and Sweet tour at the O2 arena, in London, Saturday, July 4 2009.
  10. U.S singer Madonna performs on stage, during her Sticky and Sweet tour at the O2 arena, in London, Saturday, July 4 2009.
  11. HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 04: Alexander Dimitrenko of the Ukraine poses with Eddie Chambers (R) of the USA after the WBO Eliminator Heavyweight fight between Alexnder Dimitrenko of Ukraine Eddie Chambers of USA during the Universum Champions Night at the Color Line Arena on July 04, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.
  12. HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 04: Eddie Chambers of USA celebrates after winning the WBO Eliminator Heavyweight fight between Alexnder Dimitrenko of Ukraine Eddie Chambers of USA during the Universum Champions Night at the Color Line Arena on July 04, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.
  13. HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 04: Eddie Chambers of USA poses after winning the WBO Eliminator Heavyweight fight between Alexnder Dimitrenko of Ukraine Eddie Chambers of USA during the Universum Champions Night at the Color Line Arena on July 04, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.
  14. HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 04: Eddie Chambers of USA celebrates after winning the WBO Eliminator Heavyweight fight between Alexnder Dimitrenko of Ukraine Eddie Chambers of USA during the Universum Champions Night at the Color Line Arena on July 04, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.
  15. This combination image shows US Serena Williams holding the women's singles winners trophy (L) and the women's doubles winners' trophy (R) on Day 11 at the 2009 Wimbledon tennis championships at the All England Club on July 3, 2009. The event, the third Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from June 22 to July 5, 2009. Williams and Williams won 7/6,6/4.
  16. HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 04: Alexander Dimitrenko of the Ukraine poses with Eddie Chambers (R) of the USA after the WBO Eliminator Heavyweight fight between Alexnder Dimitrenko of Ukraine Eddie Chambers of USA during the Universum Champions Night at the Color Line Arena on July 04, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany.