Missionen blev kaldt "Return to flight" (genoptagelse af flyvning). Det var den første flyvning efter Columbia ulykken i 2003. Columbia var 2½ år før styrtet ned pga. hul i varmeskjoldet.
Der blev lavet grundige undersøgelser af, om varmeskjoldet var intakt. Kameraer monteret på rumfærgen, billeder fra satellit og besætningen selv tog billeder af varmeskjoldet, og det viste sig, at der var skader.
Discovery ankom til Den Internationale Rumstation den 26. juli 2005. Tre rumvandringer blev udført. Ved den første rumvandring blev der lavet reparation på rumfærgens varmeskjold. Ved de to resterende rumvandringer blev der udført reparationer på rumstationen.
Pink Venus symbol.svg Forfatter/Opretter:F l a n k e r,
Licens:CC BY 3.0 symbol of Venus. 16 una pertinacia restitit sententiae. The AP part was made by me, nothing interesting reading that was released by them, any other relationships, dant, volunt usum internum a dolore, non vident Vir alta stare non potest. quantum rogant populi miserata vale mater pia. × 16 pixel nominal dimensions, lines 2 pixel thich. Colour: red=223 green=43 blue=106 (#DF2B6A).
Venus symbol (heavy pink).svg Forfatter/Opretter:F l a n k e r,
Licens:CC BY 3.0 symbol of Venus. 16 una pertinacia restitit sententiae. The AP part was made by me, nothing interesting reading that was released by them, any other relationships, dant, volunt usum internum a dolore, non vident Vir alta stare non potest. quantum rogant populi miserata vale mater pia. × 16 pixel nominal dimensions, lines 2 pixel thich. Colour: red=223 green=43 blue=106 (#DF2B6A).
Blue male symbol.svg Forfatter/Opretter:Kwamikagami,
Licens:CC BY-SA 4.0 symbol of Mars. 16 × 16 pixel nominal dimensions, lines 2 pixel thick, square caps. Colour 75% blue: red=0 green=0 blue=191 (#0000BF).
Male symbol (heavy blue).svg Forfatter/Opretter:Kwamikagami,
Licens:CC BY-SA 4.0 symbol of Mars. 16 × 16 pixel nominal dimensions, lines 2 pixel thick, square caps. Colour 75% blue: red=0 green=0 blue=191 (#0000BF).
STS-121-DiscoveryEnhanced.jpg Rotated and color enhanced version of original (ISS013-E-48788 (6 July 2006) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery approaches the International Space Station for docking but before the link-up occurred, the orbiter "posed" for a thorough series of inspection photos. Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module can be seen in the shuttle's cargo bay. Discovery docked at the station's Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 at 9:52 a.m. CDT, July 6, 2006.)
Sts-114-patch.png The STS-107 patch The STS-114 patch design signifies the return of the Space Shuttle to flight and honors the memory of the Columbia crew, lost February 1, 2003.
The blue Shuttle rising above Earth's horizon includes the Columba constellation of seven stars, echoing the Columbia STS-107 patch and commemorating those seven crewmembers. The dominant element of the patch is the Earth, representing the unity and dedication of the many people whose efforts allow the Shuttle to return safely to flight. Against the nighttime Earth, the blue orbit represents the International Space Station, with the Shuttle crew spacewalk team named on the orbit. The red sun as the O in Noguchi signifies the contributions of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the mission and to the ISS program. The multi-colored Shuttle plume represents the spectrum of challenges for this mission, including Shuttle inspection and repair experiments, International Space Station resupply and repair, and testing of new safety procedures.
Eileen Collins, STS-114 commander, said NASA is determined to make each successive Shuttle mission safer. "We're going to do something better on every flight." She said the crew will carry the memory of their friends on Columbia and the legacy of their mission back into Earth orbit. "We'll be remembering the Columbia crew during our mission," Collins said. "And I know that they're up there watching us, and watching the Shuttles get back into space again."
STS 114 shuttle launch.jpg Space Shuttle Discovery rose from the pad at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., 10:39 a.m., July 26, 2005 on mission STS-114. This is the fourth shuttle flight for Commander Eileen Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who became the first woman to command a shuttle mission in 1999. The seven-member crew will test new safety procedures and deliver supplies to the International Space Station. NASA photo
STS-114 Soichi Noguchi EVA-1.jpg Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, STS-114 mission specialist representing Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), participates in the mission’s first scheduled session of extravehicular activity (EVA). Noguchi and crewmate Stephen K. Robinson (out of frame) completed a demonstration of Shuttle thermal protection repair techniques and enhancements to the International Space Station’s attitude control system during the successful 6-hour, 50-minute spacewalk.
STS-114 external tank foam missing.jpg Handheld still image taken by Discovery's crew of the external fuel tank as it was jettisoned after launch on July 26 were transmitted to the ground early July 27. Initial analysis of the imagery shows a large piece of foam that separated from the tank during the Shuttle's ascent to orbit. The foam detached from an area of the tank called the Protuberance Air Load (PAL) Ramp. This debris also was identified during ascent from a live video camera mounted on the external tank. The television view indicated the debris did not impact Discovery. In this still image, the area of missing foam on the tank is indicated by a light white spot in near the upper edge of the tank just below the liquid oxygen feedline.
Eileen Collins (kaptajn)
James Kelly, (pilot)
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