
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Launch Control Center at NASA Kennedy Space Center, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, First Lady Laura Bush, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach and Center Director Jim Kennedy pose for a photograph. Mrs. Bush witnessed the historic launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Return to Flight mission STS-114. She is only the third First Lady to witness a Space Shuttle launch at KSC. On this mission to the International Space Station the crew will perform inspections on-orbit for the first time of all of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels on the leading edge of the wings and the Thermal Protection System tiles using the new Canadian-built Orbiter Boom Sensor System and the data from 176 impact and temperature sensors. Mission Specialists will also practice repair techniques on RCC and tile samples during a spacewalk in the payload bay. During two additional spacewalks, the crew will install the External Stowage Platform-2, equipped with spare part assemblies, and a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope contained in the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure. The 12-day mission is expected to end with touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Aug. 7. (Photo Credit: Bill Ingalls)
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NASA ID
05pd1769
Date Created
July 26, 2005
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Photographer
NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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