Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International. She also worked with Discovery Communications, Discovery News and was a founding member of Space.com.
Irene cut her teeth on the space beat at Florida Today newspaper, a business writer enchanted by the colorful entrepreneurs who wanted access to Air Force launch facilities and assets after commercial payloads were taken off the space shuttles following the 1986 Challenger accident. Commercial space remains the focus of her work, along with a keen interest in the search for life beyond Earth.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Irene is the 2014 recipient of the Harry Kolcum Memorial News and Communications Award, named in honor of the late Aviation Week managing editor and Cape Canaveral senior editor who was among Irene’s earliest mentors.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The countdown for what is planned to be the last launch of space shuttle Atlantis began at 4 p.m. EDT on May 11 here at Kennedy Space Center, with liftoff targeted for 2:20 p.m. EDT on May 14. The ship’s payload bay doors were closed for flight following a final inspection of the primary cargo for the STS-132 mission — the Russian-made Mini Research Module 1, or Rassvet, and the Integrated Cargo Carrier holding batteries, a space-to-ground antenna and other equipment for the International Space Station.
Mark Carreau (Houston), Irene Klotz (Cape Canaveral)
The shuttle Atlantis is poised for its final scheduled mission—the delivery of a compact Russian docking and laboratory module to the International Space Station. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center is set for May 14 at 2:20 p.m. EDT initiating a 12-day flight.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will co-chair a Cabinet-level task force to construct “an economic development action plan” for Florida’s Space Coast, the White House announced May 3.
