Editing Space Shuttle (section)

===Post-landing processing===
{{main|Orbiter Processing Facility}}
[[File:Discovery mission completed q.jpg|thumb|alt=The Space Shuttle Discovery on the runway as ground crews work to get the crew out of the orbiter|''Discovery'' being prepared after landing for crew disembarkment following [[STS-114]]]]

After the landing, ground crews approached the orbiter to conduct safety checks. Teams wearing self-contained breathing gear tested for the presence of [[hydrogen]], [[hydrazine]], monomethylhydrazine, [[nitrogen tetroxide]], and [[ammonia]] to ensure the landing area was safe.<ref name=afterlandingpao>{{cite web |title=From Landing to Launch Orbiter Processing |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/pdf/orbiterprocessing2002.pdf |publisher=NASA |access-date=June 30, 2011 |date=2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721053142/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/pdf/orbiterprocessing2002.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> Air conditioning and Freon lines were connected to cool the crew and equipment and dissipate excess heat from reentry.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-13}} A [[flight surgeon]] boarded the orbiter and performed medical checks of the crew before they disembarked. 
Once the orbiter was secured, it was towed to the OPF to be inspected, repaired, and prepared for the next mission.<ref name=afterlandingpao/> The processing included:
* removal and installation of mission-specific items and payloads
* draining of waste and leftover consumables, and refilling of new consumables
* inspection and (if necessary) repair of the thermal protection system
* checkout and servicing of main engines (done in the [[Main Engine Processing Facility]] to facilitate easier access, necessitating their removal from the orbiter)
* if necessary, removal of the [[Orbital Maneuvering System]] and [[Reaction Control System]] pods for maintenance at the [[Hypergol Maintenance Facility]]
* installation of any mid-life upgrades and modifications