KSC-05-S-00296

Space Shuttle Discovery hurtled into orbit on July 26, 2005, returning the Shuttle to flight and beginning NASA's first step toward the Moon, Mars and beyond. 'Main engines start... 7, 6, 5, three engines up and burning... 3, 2, 1 and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery, beginning America's new journey to the Moon, Mars and beyond. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.' During this test mission, NASA accomplished a variety of goals while also learning some important lessons. At liftoff, a large piece of insulating foam broke off the External Tank. Now, NASA engineers are working to determine what caused this and how to prevent it from happening in the future. One of the STS-114 mission's main tasks was to transfer much-needed supplies to the International Space Station using the Multi-purpose Logistics Module Raffaello. 'Few feet away, the Raffaello cargo module visible at the rear of the cargo bay right behind the aft bulkhead of the crew cabin, that's the Orbiter Docking System that will come into contact with the forward docking port of the Destiny Laboratory just over an hour from now.' Discovery's seven-member crew also tested new in-flight safety procedures and repair techniques. Using the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System, the astronauts took an unprecedented, close-up look at the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System. After several days of careful analysis on the ground, the protective tiles and thermal blankets were pronounced fit for entry. Space Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station after performing the first-ever 'rendezvous pitch maneuver.' This graceful, slow-motion back flip allowed Station crew members John Phillips and Sergei Krikalev to photograph the orbiter's underside. During the first of three spacewalks, Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi tested new techniques that could be used to repair damage to an orbiter's protective skin. On the second spacewalk, Robinson and Noguchi again ventured out into the vacuum of space to replace a failed Control Moment Gyroscope, which helps keep the Station oriented in space. During the third and final spacewalk, Robinson removed two gap fillers that protruded slightly between tiles under Discovery's forward end. 'Okay, that came out very easily, probably even less force... It looks like this big patient is cured.' While in orbit, the astronauts spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and even received a phone call from United States President George W. Bush. Both the STS-114 and Space Station crews took time to honor all space explorers who gave their lives for space exploration. On August 6, after nine days of cooperative work between the Discovery and Space Station crews, the orbiter undocked and the two parted ways. With a successful mission drawing to a close, they began preparing for homecoming. Discovery returned to Earth on August 9 with a flawless pre-dawn landing at California's Edwards Air Force Base. 'It's just a tremendous step and it will be the first in many steps as we head out into the exploration of the solar system back to the Moon and onto Mars, and this team showed the kind of spirit and dedication to overcome difficulties that that is going to take. And I couldn't be more proud of them, It's a great day.'