The flight of STS-121 (ISS Mission ULF-1.1) opened with the liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery from Launch Complex 39-B , Kennedy Space Center, at 1:36 PM CDT (18:36 GMT) on 4 July 2006. Appropriately, this was American Independence Day as well. After some 9 minutes of powered flight, MECO (Main Engine Cut Off) occurred, and orbit was achieved.

As with the previous Shuttle flight, STS-114, a great deal of attention was focused on the performance of the foam insulation on the External Fuel Tank. Changes and modifications to this component were successful, and after extensive on-orbit inspection of the heat shield, NASA engineers pronounced Discovery safe for re-entry at mission end.

Docking with ISS was accomplished on 6 July, roughly two days after launch. The CREW of Discovery were welcomed by ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, and Flight Engineer Jeffrey Williams, in the traditional Russian way, with the offering bread and salt. This flight also delivered ESA (European Space Agency) Astronaut Thomas Reiter, of Germany, to join the ISS Expedition 13 crew. His addition marked the first time ISSy has boasted a crew of three since spring 2003, following the loss of Columbia.

Discovery brought with her the Italian built MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) "Leonardo". This spaceborne "moving van" contained around 15 tons (13,600kg) of equipment and supplies for ISSy. Once the new materiel was unloaded, superfluous equipment crowding the limited space aboard ISSy was stowed for return to Earth.

Three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) were mounted in US spacesuits from the Quest Airlock. Astronauts Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum tested methods for repairing damaged heat shield components, and performed repairs to the Mobile Transporter, damaged by accident in December 2005. In addition, the two Astronauts tested the feasability of using the 50 foot (15.24m) robotic arm extension. This extension was used with a special camera to inspect the belly of the orbiter for damage. In this case, engineers at Houston wanted to know if extended arm could be effectively used to carry Astronauts on the end. It was hoped that they would be able to work from this lofty perch. The experiment was a success.

After some nine days of joint operations with the ISSy crew, farewells were made, and Discovery separated from ISSy at 4:08 AM CDT (9:08 GMT) 15 July 2006 to fly solo for

the next two days. STS-121 came to an end with the safe landing of Discovery at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility , runway 15, at 8:15 AM CDT (13:15 GMT) on 17 July 2006. This mission was highly successful, the brave crew accomplishing every task mapped out for them. Total duration: 12 days 18 hours 38 minutes. The fact that Discovery and her crew performed so flawlessly also opened the door for the resumption of ISS construction flights again. These had been suspended since the fatal loss of Columbia in February 2003. Congratulations are in order for all concerned.

On 6 July 2006, Discovery was maneuvering for rendevous and docking to ISSy. The OMS engines, and the RCS jets, were precision fired numerous times to bring the Shuttle into the proper positions for final approach.

The OMS system are the "secondary" rocket engines mounted on the aft end of the fuselage of the orbiter. They are used to accomplish gross changes in speed and orbit. The OMS system is also used to decelerate the Shuttle for re-entry prior to landing. The RCS system is used for fine adjustments in attitude, and direction.

These operations were broadcast "live" on NASA Select TV, and in color as well. The INCO was in control of Discovery's payload bay camera whilst the event took place.

Following the engine firings, there are frequently seen bits of icy residue emamating from the engines. This same phenomenon was observed at roughly the same point in the flight of STS-114 nearly a year earlier.

These ice flakes have, in the past, been erroneously identified as U.F.O.s by individuals who did not understand what they were looking at. We at Project P.R.O.V.E., in the interest of accuracy and truth, hereby present the occurances of 6 July 2006 for your inspection.

An extensive visual presentation of events has been prepared for you below. Let's have a look at it now, shall we?

Now we begin to see the icy residue of the fuels used. These are flakes of ice driven away from the Shuttle by the exhaust of the rocket firings.

The handy circle indicates where to look.

As you can see for yourself, the angle of the Sun had changed. The firings had ceased for the moment, and a virtual cloud of ice flakes is heading out into space.

The circles denote the location of the various bits as they move off.

This animated GIF is presented in the larger 720x480 format in order to make it easier for you to follow the ice chunks without the circles. Please note that in all cases, the trajectory of each ice bit can be traced back to its origin from the rocket jets.

What you have seen above is a common occurance in manned space flight. These pieces of ice racing away from the spacecraft after rocket firings have been seen in video going all the way back to Projects Gemini, and Apollo, in the 1960s. They are, in addition, often observed when Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles are maneuvering near ISSy.

Once one gains sufficient experience watching space flights unfold, you realize that this phenomenon is quite routine. We hope you have enjoyed this little educational moment.

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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.

© 2006 Jeff Challender