WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.000 Music. 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 You're watching NASA Direct. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Next on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report: 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.000 Space Shuttle Discovery roared into space and successfully completed a 12-day Return to Flight mission after more 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:27.000 than two years of safety modifications. On August 9, Discovery glided to a picture-perfect, 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:35.000 pre-dawn landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, concluding its 5.8-million-mile journey. 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:41.000 Now with focus set on another launch in spring 2006, all three of NASA's orbiters are currently 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:48.000 preparing for missions to the International Space Station. The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:59.000 Music. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:04.000 After a successful mission to deliver much-needed supplies to the International Space Station, 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:09.000 Space Shuttle Discovery is once again called upon to soar into space. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:15.000 I'm Stephen Payne, NASA test director, and this is the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:25.000 In Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3, work has picked up once again on Discovery in preparation for NASA's second test mission, STS-121. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.000 Discovery will be used for the next mission instead of Atlantis. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:35.000 Atlantis is needed to carry Space Station truss segments on STS-115 which are too heavy to be carried by Discovery. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Since landing, Discovery's orbiter boom sensor system, or OBSS, has been removed for a thorough checkout. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:52.000 It will be reinstalled at a later date. The OBSS was flown for the first time on mission STS-114. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:59.000 Also on Discovery, thermography and eddy current inspections are complete on the reinforced carbon-carbon. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:08.000 Thermography uses high-intensity light to heat specific areas of the leading edge panels which are then immediately scanned with an infrared camera. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.000 As the area cools, any damage to the area can be spotted. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:20.000 The external tank that will help boost Discovery back into space is now at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Workers there will apply the orange foam coating using a modified technique to prevent foam from flaking off during the shuttle's ascent. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:35.000 A pair of "Tiger Teams" continues to investigate the external tank foam loss during Discovery's July launch. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:41.000 In a press conference, NASA Associate Administrator William Gerstenmaier said the teams 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:46.000 have identified the areas of concern and are making good progress. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.000 An exciting milestone for orbiter Endeavour-- 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:55.000 Workers cheered with excitement as the vehicle was powered up after a nearly two-year major modification period. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:03:02.000 124 upgrades were completed, including installing the new Multi-Functional Electronic Display System, 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:11.000 also known as the "glass cockpit." More than 150 miles of wiring were inspected and 1,000 thermal tiles were bonded. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.000 This was the second full orbiter modification conducted at Kennedy. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:21.000 That's all the time we have for this week's Space Shuttle Status Report. Stay with NASA TV and NASA-dot-gov for the latest in mission news. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:28.000 For the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report, I'm Stephen Payne. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:44.000 Music. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.000