STS-114 lifted off from Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center, on 26 July 2005 at 9:39 AM CDT (14:39 GMT). This daylight launch was the most watched in Shuttle history, with the possible exception of STS-1, the initial Shuttle launch on 12 April 1981. The timing and solar angle were chosen to maximise opportunities to film the liftoff, and ascent, from every possible perspective. These even included modified old jet bombers from the 1950s (WB-57 Canberras), carrying special camera turrets in the nose for the purpose of photographing Discovery at high altitude as she was on her way to orbit. The reasoning behind all of this was to make sure that if there were ANY debris strikes on the orbiter's sensitive heat shield, like the one which doomed Columbia in 2003, they would be captured on film for detailed analysis before allowing Discovery to re-enter the atmosphere.

The Crew experienced some facets of Shuttle flight that are entirely new. On orbit inspection of the heat shield, manual repairs to that heat shield, and experiments with different methods of on orbit heat shield repair. In addition, Discovery carried over 15 tons of equipment and supplies to the International Space Station ( in the Raphaello MPLM module ), where she was greeted upon arrival by the Expedition 11 Crew. Three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) were carried out. These involved Space Station repairs, improvements, and attending to heat shield problems. A fourth EVA to repair a flaw in the insulation below Commander Eileen Collins window was cancelled as unnecessary.

Space Shuttle Discovery and her crew landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base (NASA's Dryden Research Center) in the California desert at 7:11 AM CDT (12:11 GMT) on 9 August 2005. Total flight duration was 13 days 21 hours 32 minutes. The mission was highly successful, accomplishing every goal set for it.

The sad news is that in the wake of continued problems with external tank insulation breaking away during liftoff, the Shuttle fleet has been indefinately grounded until the problem is solved.

On Saturday 6 August 2005, the Shuttle and Station had parted company. Later that day something very strange happened! The NASA commentator announced that there would be a "temporary loss of signal" from Discovery...OVER MONTREAL CANADA! This is not the so-called ZOE. See this page from February 2004, for a story about this Canadian ZOE having been "used" before.

The Canadian ZOE?

Eastern Canada is the most populated, and technologically saturated region of that country. Of course, Eastern Canada is also adjacent to the North Eastern United States. This area of Earth has absolutely no shortage of ground-based tracking stations in line of sight to the position of the ISS at that time. In addition, there is at least one, possibly two, Tracking Data & Relay Satellites in direct line of sight covering the entire continent of North America.

Next is a transcript of the exact words of the NASA announcer telling the world about the "Montreal ZOE".

C = The NASA Commentator who remarks on events as they unfold

All Orange italics mine for emphasis. Hesitations and grammatical errors are left in as originally spoken. JC.

( NASA Picture )

Above is a diagram of the TDRSS constellation of geosynchronous relay satellites. These gather data from ISSy and Shuttles on orbit around the world, and send it back to the White Sands Complex in New Mexico. In the case of Montreal Canada, there are several of these satellites in line of sight to both Discovery and White Sands, orbiting 22,500 miles ( 36,000 km ) overhead. These are TDRS-8 at 150° W, seen on the map as due south of Mexico. Also, TDRS F-1 at 49° W, orbiting over Brazil, and TDRS F-6 at 47° W seen over the center of the Atlantic Ocean. HOW could Discovery have been unable to "see" at least ONE of these at the time in question? Weird, huh?

One just has to wonder what it is about eastern Canada that makes the folks at NASA so nervous. But, as in all of these cases...

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At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

© 2005 Jeff Challender