Washington - The space shuttle Discovery undocked Wednesday from the International Space Station to head back to Earth after a week on a milestone construction mission that has doubled the capacity of the orbiting laboratory.
The mission astronauts installed a fourth set of solar panels, completing the power plant needed to double the station's electrical generating capacity. The power allows the station to sustain six long-term residents instead of the current crew of three, and more occupants could arrive as early as May.
Washington - North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket onto a launch pad ahead of what Pyongyang says is a plan to place a satellite into space, a US official confirmed Wednesday.
"It is out there," the counter-proliferation official said. "It's the latest indication the North Koreans are moving forward with their announced plans to launch."
The official confirmed earlier Japanese media reports that the rocket was being moved onto the lift-off pad for North Korea's announced April 4-8 launch.
Washington - US President Barack Obama headed to Congress Wednesday for a meeting with his fellow Democratic Party lawmakers, some of whom have been skeptical of the administration's massive spending plans to help end the country's recession.
His visit came as the budget committees of both chambers in Congress began debating Obama's 2010 budget proposals - the first step in what is likely to be a prolonged battle over the president's spending priorities.
Washington - The space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday to head back to Earth after a week at the station on a milestone construction mission that has doubled the station's capacity.
The mission astronauts installed the fourth and final set of solar panels needed to double power capacity at the station so it can hold six instead of the current three long-term residents - possibly as early as May. The crew completed three spacewalks, including one to install the panels.
Washington - An F-22A fighter jet crashed in California while on a test flight on Wednesday, the US Air Force confirmed. The status of the pilot was unclear.
Lieutenant Colonel Karen Platt, an Air Force spokeswoman, said the crash took place about 55 kilometres northwest of Edwards Air Force Base, which lies in the desert north of Los Angeles.
The F-22 Raptor is one of the most sophisticated fighter jets in the world and comes with a hefty pricetag. The crash was the first for this model since it went into full production, Platt said.
Washington - The space shuttle Discovery undocked Wednesday from the International Space Station to head back to Earth after a week on a milestone construction mission that has doubled the capacity of the orbiting laboratory.
Washington - North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket onto a launch pad ahead of what Pyongyang says is a plan to place a satellite into space, a US official confirmed Wednesday.
Washington - US President Barack Obama headed to Congress Wednesday for a meeting with his fellow Democratic Party lawmakers, some of whom have been skeptical of the administration's massive spending plans to help end the country's recession.
Washington - The space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday to head back to Earth after a week at the station on a milestone construction mission that has doubled the station's capacity.
Washington - An F-22A fighter jet crashed in California while on a test flight on Wednesday, the US Air Force confirmed. The status of the pilot was unclear.
Washington - An F-22 f
