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President Bush's nominee for NASA director, Michael Griffin, may revive efforts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope at his confirmation hearing. NASA previously abandoned a plan to use an unmanned robot to repair the telescope, but a new internal review has given high marks to the same proposal.

John Allen, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, discusses the growth of the global Catholic church and what the election of a non-traditional, non-European pope would mean for the papacy. More than two-thirds of the world's Catholics live in Africa, Latin America and other countries in the developing world.

The largest funeral in modern history takes place in Rome on a windy, cool morning. The funeral for Pope John Paul II begins nine days of mourning for one of the Catholic Church's longest-serving pontiffs. The homily was delivered by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of the pope's closest friends and advisers.

Immigration overhaul, reauthorizing the Patriot Act and the bankruptcy bill are among the issues awaiting Congress when it returns from spring recess. Reverberations are expected from congressional intervention in the Terri Schiavo case and House Majority Leader Tom Delay's verbal attack on federal judges.

Leading Shiite politician Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named Iraq's transitional prime minister. A religious conservative, Jaafari is also known for his political pragmatism. Also, President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents are sworn in.

John Negroponte, President Bush's nominee for the new position of National Intelligence Director, testifies at his Senate confirmation hearing. Negroponte may face tough questions about his actions while serving in Central America during the Contra War, but he is expected to win easy confirmation.

Dennis Kozlowski, the former chief executive of Tyco International, has taken the stand in his own defense. Kozlowski offered an explanation of bonuses his employees' claimed were unauthorized. Kozlowski is accused of looting the company of $150 million and artificially inflating its stock.

The ceremonies surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II, his funeral and the election of his successor Benedict XVI have played out according to a script written centuries ago. But the new pontiff strayed from the script Saturday, speaking to reporters before his inaugural mass tomorrow.

Space shuttle Columbia's nose cone is found in the eastern Texas woods. Recovery teams hunting for debris from the Feb. 1 disaster spread out further Tuesday, searching as far west as Arizona. NPR's Eric Niiler reports.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases testing affirmative action in higher education. Three white students who have challenged the University of Michigan's admissions programs allege the university uses a quota system that unfairly benefits minority applicants. Hear NPR's Nina Totenberg.