STS 114

Pictured, from left, are Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas, Charles Camarda
and Wendy Lawrence, Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists
Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, and Pilot James Kelly.
Image credit : NASA/KSC (click to enlarge)


After the unprecedented disaster the Space shuttle Columbia, on February the 1st 2003,
NASA had postponed its manned space missions for a while. But with the announcement of mission STS 114, NASA is planning what it calls, “Return to Flight”. STS stands for “Space Transportation System”.

With the primary aim as shuttle safety, NASA will launch its Space shuttle “Discovery” from launch pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. According to NASA, “The launch will be a dramatic display of smoke, fire, and sound --And the fulfillment of a promise made to the families of the Columbia astronauts: that NASA would honor their memory by continuing their quest for knowledge.”

Discovery's crew of seven astronauts is led by Commander Eileen Collins (Col., USAF, Ret.), America’s first female spacecraft commander. Joining her will be Pilot James Kelly (Lt. Col., USAF), and Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); Stephen Robinson and Andrew Thomas, both civilian mechanical engineers; Wendy Lawrence (Captain, USN); and Charles Camarda, a civilian aerospace engineer.

Discovery will resume the construction of the International Space Station and will deliver some new cargo to the ISS. Three space walks, each of about 6 ½ hour duration is planned by NASA. The space walks will be done by Noguchi and Robinson. They’ll test Shuttle heat shield repair material techniques, replace one of the station’s control gyroscopes, restore power to another and install a work platform for future in-orbit construction.

Lawrence is in charge of the transfer of supplies and equipment to the station. She and other crew members will operate the Shuttle and Station robotic arms. The arms are used to assist spacewalks, install equipment and inspect the orbiter’s thermal protective tiles.

Thomas will be the primary operator for the Shuttle’s robotic arm as it uses a new boom
Extension to perform an unprecedented inspection of the Shuttle’s heat shield. He will also serve as the choreographer from inside the Shuttle cabin during three spacewalks the STS-114 crew will perform.

Camarda will share Space Shuttle robotic arm duties with Thomas. He also will prepare rendezvous and navigation equipment and help Lawrence transfer supplies to and from the Station. Using the Station's robotic arm and the Shuttle's robotic arm at times, the mission will involve some of the most complex space robotics work ever performed.

More information about the STS 114 mission can be obtained from NASA Mission Overview