STS-114 Crew Takes Focused Look at Shuttle Heat Shield

The STS-114 astronauts are conducting more inspections of Space Shuttle Discovery’s heat shield this morning. They are using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System attached to the Shuttle’s robot arm to take a closer look at preselected areas of interest. Based on analysis so far, it appears Discovery has not sustained any damage that would prevent a safe return to Earth on Aug. 7. Early indications are that Discovery has less damage than Shuttles on previous flights.

In other activities, STS-114 crewmembers used the International Space Station’s robot arm this morning to lift the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module out of Discovery’s payload bay and attach it to the Station. Raffaello, a pressurized cargo carrier, contains equipment and supplies for the Station. Crewmembers will enter Raffaello for the first time later today.

Also on today’s schedule are preparations for Saturday’s spacewalk by Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson. About three hours before the crew goes to sleep at 3:39 p.m. EDT, the hatches between the Station and Shuttle will be closed in order to lower pressure in the Shuttle. The lower pressure allows the Noguchi and Robinson to become gradually acclimated to the lower pressures of spacesuit.