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.

The waste water dump is a routine operation performed by Shuttle's on orbit. A water dump is accomplished by spraying excess water out into space through a nozzle on the starboard side of the orbiter. Not only is waste water jettisoned, but also accumulated pure water from the onboard fuel cells. These use hydrogen and oxygen gas (H2 & O2) to generate electric power for the Shuttles. They also produce copious amounts of plain water as a byproduct. Due to landing weight restrictions, this water can't be stored for return to Earth. As much of this water as possible is pumped into large plastic containers for use aboard ISSy. The rest (Along with waste water from toilets, space suits, and condensation from the air.) is collected and squirted into the vacuum of outer space, to be lost forever.

As this water is released, the individual droplets freeze almost instantly into ice particles rather like snowflakes. They scatter all over, bumping into each other like billiard balls, and even bounce off the Shuttle and Station components. But, due to the principle of inertia, they always move in straight lines through the vacuum of space. Once again, the billiard ball analogy helps with visualising the concept. They have no engines, or other means of propulsion and steering. Once on a trajectory, they continue in a straight line until either hitting something, or being influenced by an outside force. An example of such an outside force would be the firing of the RCS jets aboard the Shuttle. As the tear drop shaped exhaust plume from these small rockets expands, it can briefly blow small particles about just like the wind on Earth. The gases dissipate into the vaccum rapidly, and their effect is quickly lost. An example of how this works can be seen HERE.

ISSy doesn't have fuel cells. She relies on large arrays of solar panels for the passive generation of electricity from sunlight. Water is therefore very precious on the station. Every drop must be imported from Earth via Shuttles, and Russian Progress Freighters launched three or four times a year. Even urine is recycled through a Russian machine known as Elektron, and converted back to hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is used for breathing, and the plure hydrogen dumped overboard into space.

On 2 August 2005, during the flight of STS-114, one of these water dumps was carried out. It caused quite a furor at first, because several people were watching NASA Select TV "live" at the time. Some of them mistook the ice flakes passing in the night for U.F.O.s.

Let's have a look at this water dump now, shall we?

Another example of the floodlight mounted on the Shuttle cameras is the Project P.R.O.V.E. page STS-110 Camera Games.

There were a lot of objects seen during this period of night time darkness. BUT, things got a lot more energetic as soon as the Sun rose.

You might notice that a number of the ice flakes passing through the field of view bear a striking resemblance to the "miles wide" "Dropa Stone" "space ships" of STS-75 "Tether Incident" fame. These are merely bits of ice which are so close to the camera lens that they are out of focus, and present what is known as an Airy Disk. The famous "notch" in the edge of the objects is simply a latent image of the mechanism which operates the adjustable iris in the camera.

Airy Disk

The image of a bright point object as focused by a lens system. With monochromatic light, it consists of a central point of maximum intensity surrounded by alternate circles of light and darkness caused by the reinforcement and interference of diffracted rays. The light areas are called maxima and the dark areas minima. The distribution of light from the center to the outer areas of the figure was investigated mathematically by Sir George Airy. The diffraction disk forms a basis for determining the resolving power of an ideal lens system. The diameter of the disk depends largely on the aperture of the lens. The diffraction of light causing the Airy disk is a factor limiting the resolution of a well corrected optical system.

One such as myself might speculate that the lack of an explanation for the objects, until the last moment, was a trap set for the naive. Who knows? It certainly can't be proven.

Another water dump was captured from the flight of STS-115.

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At all times during this incident, the camera was under the control of the INCO in Houston Mission Control.

(INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)

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

© 2005 Jeff Challender