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This was the first shuttle flight following the loss of Columbia in February of 2003.
Technical problems delayed to first launch attempt on July 13. On July 26, the countdown was flawless and liftoff occurred on time.
After bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center on August 8 and 9 Edwards AFB in California was chosen as the preferred landing. Discovery was ferried back to Kennedy Space Center Aug. 20, 2005, atop a modified Boeing 747 aircraft.
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| Above: STS-114 Crew photo with Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot James Kelly, Mission Specialists Charles Camarda, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinson and Andrew Thomas. Image Credit: NASA |
STS-114 was the first Return to Flight mission since the tragic loss of Columbia Feb. 1, 2003. Two and a half years were spent researching and implementing safety improvements for orbiters and external tanks.
Discovery's climb to orbit was carefully observed through a system of ground-based cameras, radar systems and airborne cameras aboard high altitude aircraft.
Before docking with the space station, Commander Eileen Collins performed the first Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver about 600 feet below the station. The motion flipped the shuttle end over end, allowing Expedition 11 crew members to photograph the underside of Discovery and its heat-resistant tiles in detail.
During the mission, astronauts tested and examined tiles to demonstrate of repair techniques. They also transferred equipment and supplies to the station.
For complete details on STS-114, see SpaceFlight.NASA.GOV
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