Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts returned to Earth today, completing a long but successful construction job that boosted the size and power of the international space station.

After more than a month’s delay, space shuttle Endeavour and seven astronauts thundered into orbit on a flight to the international space station, hauling up a veranda for Japan’s enormous lab and looking to set a crowd record.

Nasa managers may have to decide between three imperfect choices as they try to select a landing site for the shuttle Discovery.

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery woke up to their first day in space today, where the first order of business will be to make sure their ship was not damaged during launch.

The discovery of mad cow disease in the US cost the beef industry between €2.4bn and €3.5bn in losses last year, according to an economic impact study.