Space Shuttle's "Return to Flight"

[DisneyDaniel]

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

Too bad the video of it landing (I watched it live on tv) wasn't better. What I did see was incredible, but the stations here with good quality pictures also had annoying graphics, bottom scrawl, and endless pointless chatter from the newspeople.

Thank goodness the astronauts made it home safely.

That's exactly why I have avoided all so-called "traditional" TV news coverage of this particular mission for the past 14 days. NASA-TV has the best 24/7 coverage--it's live, simple, comprehensive and WITHOUT the talking-head newscasters who really do not know anything. Yes, amen for a safe and successful mission.

Here are some video links direct from NASA (RealPlayer needed on your computer). Note: These videos might be slow in streaming/playing since they're in high-demand right now.

LINK for: Touchdown! Discovery makes a picture-perfect landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

LINK for: Mission Completed. The crew of Discovery makes their way onto the tarmac after a 5.8 million mile mission around the Earth.

LINK for: Discovery Crews Gives Thanks. The STS-114 crew gathers with Commander Eileen Collins as she describes the success of the mission.



Space Shuttle Discovery makes a picture-perfect landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 5:11 a.m. Pacific Time.


Mission managers applaud the successful landing of Space Shuttle Discovery.


After exiting Discovery and inspecting the vehicle, Return to Flight mission Commander Eileen Collins (center, standing in front of the STS-114 crew) took a moment to address the media waiting on the runway: "We have had a fantastic mission. We are so glad to be able to come back and say it was successful." According to Collins, her team of astronauts couldn't wait to look-over their ship. "The crew was really anxious to walk around and see what the outside looked like. We brought Discovery back in great shape," Collins said. "This is a wonderful moment for all of us."


STS-114 astronauts in a pre-flight photo (from left): Steve Robinson, Jim Kelly, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charlie Camarda, Eileen Collins and Soichi Noguchi.