On This Day in 2005: Discovery Launches on the First Post-Columbia Shuttle Mission...

NASA

It was 20 years ago today that Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex (LC)-39B on flight STS-114...the first space shuttle mission to fly since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

STS-114 didn't go exactly as planned—with a large bird colliding with Discovery's external tank (ET) as the vehicle was rising from its mobile launch platform at LC-39B during liftoff, and two incidents occurring where debris broke off from the ET during ascent to low-Earth orbit...with one piece hitting Discovery's starboard wing. Fortunately, the impact was not strong enough to cause any damage to the orbiter.

Also, an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) was required to remove two gap fillers that were protruding from the heat shield tiles on the belly of Discovery. Even though these fillers did not pose a threat to the orbiter during re-entry, NASA erred on the side of caution and conducted this EVA anyway.

On July 27, one day after launch, NASA additionally erred on the side of caution by postponing future space shuttle flights as the agency continued to examine why pieces of debris were still being liberated from the external tank during launch. It wasn't till Discovery embarked on the second Return to Flight mission, STS-121 (on July 4, 2006), that NASA enjoyed an issue-free shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

Discovery completed STS-114 by landing at Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 in California...on August 9, 2005.