Editing Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (section)

=== First Return to Flight mission (STS-114) ===
{{Main|STS-114}}
[[File:STS-114-Debris-Animation.gif|thumb|The STS-114 ET losing a large piece of foam|alt=Video image from external tank as foam falls off during flight]]

The first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, began with the launch of ''Discovery'' on July 26, 2005, at 10:39{{spaces}}am (EDT).<ref name="sts114_launch">{{cite web
  | last = Armstrong
  | first = Dennis
  | title = Launch and Landing
  | publisher = NASA
  | date = March 5, 2006
| url = https://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/launch/index.html
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = July 26, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210726112125/https://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/launch/index.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> Sixteen pieces of foam from the ET were dislodged during the launch that were large enough to be considered significant by NASA investigators,<ref name="sts114_tigerteam">{{cite web
  | title = STS-114 External Tank Tiger Team Report
  | publisher = NASA
  | date = October 2005
  | url = https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/136149main_ET_tiger_team_report.pdf
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = November 29, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211129144753/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/136149main_ET_tiger_team_report.pdf
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>{{rp|7}} including one piece that was approximately {{convert|36|by|11|in|cm}}.{{r|sts114_tigerteam|p=18}} Post-launch investigations did not find any indications of damage from the foam loss, but ET video did reveal that a small piece of TPS tile from the nose landing gear fell off during launch.<ref name="malik_foam">{{cite news
  | last = Malik
  | first = Tariq
  | title = Multiple Pieces of Foam Fly in Shuttle Launch, Forcing Fleet Grounding
  | work = Space
  | date = July 27, 2005
| url = https://www.space.com/1357-multiple-pieces-foam-fly-shuttle-launch-forcing-fleet-grounding.html
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = May 21, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220521110617/https://www.space.com/1357-multiple-pieces-foam-fly-shuttle-launch-forcing-fleet-grounding.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> Upon reaching orbit the crew inspected ''Discovery'' with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. On July 29 ''Discovery'' [[Space rendezvous|rendezvoused]] with the ISS and, before [[Docking and berthing of spacecraft|docking]], performed the first [[rendezvous pitch maneuver]] to allow the crew aboard the ISS to observe and photograph the orbiter's belly.<ref name="sts114_feature">{{cite web
  | last = Armstrong
  | first = Dennis
  | title = A Spectacular Test Flight
  | publisher = NASA
  | date = August 23, 2005
| url = https://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/sts114mission.html
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = January 21, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121170414/https://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/sts114mission.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> The next day, astronauts [[Soichi Noguchi]] and [[Stephen Robinson]] performed the first of three [[spacewalks]]. They tested a tile repair tool, the Emittance Wash Applicator, on intentionally damaged TPS tiles that had been brought in the [[Space Shuttle#Payload bay|payload bay]].<ref name="olympus">{{cite book
  | last1 = Ta
  | first1 = Julie B.
  | last2 = Treviño
  | first2 = Robert C.
  | title = Walking to Olympus An EVA Chronology, 1997–2011
  | publisher = NASA
  | year = 2016
  | location = Washington, DC
  | isbn = 978-1626830318
  | url = https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/walking-to-olympus_tagged.pdf
  | id = NASA SP-2016-4550
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = March 10, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220310114319/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/walking-to-olympus_tagged.pdf
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>{{Reference page|page=62}} On August 3 the same astronauts performed the third EVA of the mission, during which Robinson stood on the ISS's [[Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]] and went to ''Discovery''{{'}}s belly to remove two gap fillers between tiles that had begun to protrude.{{r|olympus|p=63}}<ref name="nasm_gap_filler">{{cite web
  | title = Tile Gap Filler, Shuttle, STS-114
  | publisher = [[National Air and Space Museum]]
  | date = 2022
  | url = https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/tile-gap-filler-shuttle-sts-114/nasm_A20060583000
  | accessdate = August 20, 2022
| archive-date = August 21, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220821191123/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/tile-gap-filler-shuttle-sts-114/nasm_A20060583000
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> After a delay due to bad weather at KSC, the decision was made to land at [[Edwards AFB]]. ''Discovery'' successfully landed at 8:11{{spaces}}am (EDT) on August 9.{{r|sts114_launch}}{{r|sts114_feature}} Had ''Discovery'' been unable to safely land, the crew would have remained on the ISS until ''Atlantis'' was flown to rescue them.<ref name="sts114-atlantis">{{cite news
  | last = Watson
  | first = Traci
  | title = The mission NASA hopes won't happen
  | work = [[USA Today]]
  | date = March 22, 2005
| url = https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-03-22-shuttle-cover_x.htm
  | accessdate = November 28, 2022
| archive-date = January 15, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230115201734/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2005-03-22-shuttle-cover_x.htm
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> As a result of the foam loss, NASA grounded the Space Shuttle fleet again.{{r|learn}}{{r|malik_foam}}