Astronaut Scrubbed From Apollo 13 Dies At 87

Astronaut Scrubbed From Apollo 13 Dies At 87

Handout file photo dated May 11, 1982 shows two astronauts will man the space shuttle Columbia for NASA's fourth and final (STS-4) orbital flight test. Thomas K. (Ken) Mattingly II, right, is crew commander. Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., is pilot. Ken Mattingly, astronaut scrubbed from apollo 13, is dead at 87. He later orbited the moon, but in 1970 he was bumped from the Apollo flight after being exposed to measles. Then, from mission control, he helped it avert disaster. Photo by Nasa via ABACAPRESS.COM

Japanese astronaut speaks about upcoming shuttle mission

Japanese astronaut speaks about upcoming shuttle mission

HOUSTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata shows a model of the international space station while speaking to reporters Aug. 21 on his upcoming shuttle mission at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Johnson Space Center in Houston. While aboard the U.S. space shuttle Discovery, Wakata will operate the shuttle's robot arm and assemble components for the space station. The Discovery, the fourth shuttle NASA will be launching to assemble the space station, is scheduled to lift off Oct. 5.

Z-1 truss attached to International Space Station

Z-1 truss attached to International Space Station

HOUSTON, United States - An exterior framework known as the Z-1 truss (C) is installed onto the International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 14. Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata began assembly work on the ISS using the space shuttle Discovery's robot arm, on the fourth day of an 11-day mission to add critical components to the expanding outpost. Wakata, one of seven Discovery crew members, plucked the Z-1 truss from the shuttle's cargo bay with the Canadian-made arm.