BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the return America's space shuttle fleet to flight as we chronicle Discovery's mission to the international space station.

0859 GMT (4:59 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Jim Kelly has completed the auxiliary power unit prestart, which positions switches in the cockpit in the ready-to-start configuration. One of the three APUs will be started just prior to the deorbit burn.

0854 GMT (4:54 a.m. EDT)

A steering check of the Discovery's twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of the shuttle is now beginning. The engines will perform the deorbit burn to slow the ship for entry into the atmosphere this morning.

0850 GMT (4:50 a.m. EDT)

Radar is showing a couple of small showers popping up inside the 30-mile zone around the runway. Rominger is going to fly over and take a look at this area, which is offshore to the northeast.

0839 GMT (4:39 a.m. EDT)

In a positive step to potentially bringing Discovery home to the Kennedy Space Center at sunrise this morning, entry flight director LeRoy Cain has instructed the astronauts to begin the "fluid loading" protocol. Typically, the crew is allowed to hold off drinking the large quantities of liquids unless there's a reasonable chance of landing on the next available opportunity.

Clouds around the Cape and rainshowers off the coast continue to be assessed to ensure the weather conditions do not violate any of the landing rules. A final "go/no go" decision for the deorbit burn is expected around 5:15 a.m.

0830 GMT (4:30 a.m. EDT)

The crew is beginning an alignment of the shuttle's inertial measurement unit guidance computers.

0825 GMT (4:25 a.m. EDT)

A decision point on this next landing opportunity is coming up in about 10 minutes. That is when the crew would need to begin their "fluid loading" to take salt tablets and drink several quarts of water to restore fluids lost during two weeks spent in microgravity.

0800 GMT (4:00 a.m. EDT)

Chief NASA astronaut Kent Rominger is back at work, flying around Central Florida to examine clouds and the rainshowers offshore. He is relaying his observations to astronaut Rick Sturckow in Houston for input into the decision making process this morning.

0737 GMT (3:37 a.m. EDT)

Now two hours from the next deorbit burn window to bring Discovery back to Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting. If the shuttle is able to land on that orbit, touching down in Florida at 6:42 a.m. EDT, the STS-114 mission will have lasted 13 days, 20 hours and 3 minutes, spanning 5,745,051 miles.

0722 GMT (3:22 a.m. EDT)

A map showing the path Discovery would follow into the Kennedy Space Center for landing at 6:42 a.m. EDT is available here. The track would give residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast the chance to see Discovery's entry and fiery plasma trail.

0715 GMT (3:15 a.m. EDT)

Chief NASA astronaut Kent Rominger has just landed in the Shuttle Training Aircraft for refueling. He'll return to the skies in a little while to resume weather reconnaissance flights around the Kennedy Space Center runway.

0703 GMT (3:03 a.m. EDT)

WAVE OFF. This morning's first chance to bring space shuttle Discovery back to Earth has been scrubbed due to unacceptable weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida due to rainshowers and thunderstorms within 30 miles of the runway. Discovery will circle the planet one more time while flight controllers watch the weather. If Mother Nature decides to cooperate, Discovery could fire its braking engines at 5:37 a.m. EDT for KSC touchdown at 6:42 a.m. EDT.

NASA's backup plan if the weather remains unfavorable at the Florida spaceport this morning is diverting Discovery to the alternate landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert. The first Edwards opportunity would begin with a deorbit burn at 7:07 a.m. EDT and landing at 8:11 a.m. EDT.

0657 GMT (2:57 a.m. EDT)

The official weather forecast for the first KSC landing opportunity has been presented to the flight control team. The forecast is "no go" for Discovery's homecoming. A wave off is expected momentarily.

0640 GMT (2:40 a.m. EDT)

The crew should be suiting up in their day-glow orange partial pressure suits worn during launch and entry. A decision on whether to continue pressing ahead with the first landing opportunity is expected to be made around 3 a.m.

0621 GMT (2:21 a.m. EDT)

CAPCOM Ken Ham just told the astronauts that the weather is "not looking great" for the first landing opportunity this morning. The official weather forecast has been revised to include rainshowers within 30 miles of the runway. Earlier, the forecast called for a "slight chance" of showers.

0614 GMT (2:14 a.m. EDT)

If the weather precludes the first landing opportunity this morning, the second and final shot to land at Kennedy Space Center would begin with a deorbit burn at 5:37 a.m. and a daytime touchdown at 6:42 a.m. EDT.

0607 GMT (2:07 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts are still marching through the deorbit preparation checklist. Ignition of the two-minue, 43-second burn would occur at 4:01:32 a.m. EDT to slow Discovery by about 275 feet per second to slip from orbit and begin the hour-long glide to Kennedy Space Center.

0526 GMT (1:26 a.m. EDT)

The crew has been given a "go" to transition Discovery's onboard computers from the OPS-2 software used during the shuttle's stay in space to OPS-3, which is the software package that governs entry and landing.

0525 GMT (1:25 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's payload bay doors have been shut and sealed for the space shuttle's fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere this morning.

And Discovery will soon maneuver to a new orientation in space to improve the communications link with NASA's orbiting data relay satellites.

0522 GMT (1:22 a.m. EDT)

Payload bay door closure is underway.

0520 GMT (1:20 a.m. EDT)

"OK, Eileen, once again the word of the evening for weather at the Cape is instability," CAPCOM astronaut Ken Ham just radioed Discovery commander Eileen Collins. "Right now we are watching some cells popping up within the 30-mile circle, over the water, probably in the vicinity of 20 to 25 miles off the coast. (Weather reconnaissance astronaut pilot Kent Rominger) is reporting that they are building up fairly high...and they do have some electrical activity associated with them. So we are watching all of that. Our optimism isn't as high as it was earlier. Obviously, we are going to ask you to keep going along the timeline, and we're going to look real hard at the decision for fluid loading with respect to this (landing opportunity) because we understand the situation we are in with you and the whole day ahead of you."

"Discovery copies all that, thank you," Collins replied.

The fluid loading is the protocol of the astronauts drinking large amounts of fluids to help in their readaptation to Earth's gravity. Starting to drink in preparation for this first landing opportunity is not something flight controllers will decide to approve unless there's some chance of weather cooperating.

0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's astronauts have been given approval to close and lock the 60-foot long payload bay doors as activities continue for the day's first deorbit and landing opportunity. Weather continues to be watched closely at the Kennedy Space Center, with showers offshore and clouds around the area.

0511 GMT (1:11 a.m. EDT)

Entry flight director LeRoy Cain is polling the Mission Control team for a "go" to close the payload bay doors.

0440 GMT (12:40 a.m. EDT)

Good morning from Kennedy Space Center where there's a star-filled sky overhead and preparations are well underway for landing of shuttle Discovery at 5:07 a.m. EDT (0907 GMT). The astronauts are stepping through the deorbit prep timeline and should close the payload bay doors in about 40 minutes. The strategy is targeting the two KSC landing opportunities this morning, then divert to Edwards Air Force Base in California if the Florida weather does not cooperate. Meteorologists say there is much less moisture in the air around the KSC today than yesterday, but there remains a slight concern for showers within 30 miles of the runway.

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005
0955 GMT (5:55 a.m. EDT)

Uncertainty about dynamic weather at the Kennedy Space Center forced entry flight director LeRoy Cain to pass up two landing opportunities today and to keep the shuttle Discovery's crew in orbit an extra 24 hours. Read our full story.

0940 GMT (5:40 a.m. EDT)

The forecast for Kennedy calls for just a few clouds at 2,000 feet and 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet with a slight chance of showers within 30 nautical miles. Winds will be out of 220 degrees at three knots with peaks to five knots, well within NASA's crosswind limits.

At Edwards, the outlook is for few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet and winds from 220 degrees at four knots peaking to seven knots.

White Sands is expecting a slight chance of showers and broken cloud decks at 10,000 and 25,000 feet.

0932 GMT (5:32 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's onboard computers are transitioning from the entry and landing software package back to the on-orbit software.

0921 GMT (5:21 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's payload bay doors have been reopened as the astronauts begin backing out of the deorbit preparations.

0904 GMT (5:04 a.m. EDT)

ANOTHER DAY IN SPACE! Unstable weather conditions and low clouds aren't going to cooperate at Kennedy Space Center this morning, forcing space shuttle Discovery to remain in orbit for an additional day. Tomorrow's first landing opportunity would be 5:08 a.m. EDT at the Cape. NASA will activate the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The space agency intends to get Discovery back on Earth tomorrow at either Kennedy Space Center or Edwards.

Here are all possible landing times, including targets for White Sands, N.M. (in EDT)

ORBIT...DEORBIT......LANDING...SITE

Tuesday, Aug. 9

217.....04:05 AM.....05:08 AM...Kennedy Space Center
218.....05:37 AM.....06:39 AM...White Sands, NM
218.....05:41 AM.....06:43 AM...Kennedy Space Center
219.....07:11 AM.....08:13 AM...Edwards AFB, CA
219.....07:13 AM.....08:14 AM...White Sands, NM
220.....08:47 AM.....09:48 AM...Edwards AFB, CA

0902 GMT (5:02 a.m. EDT)

Controllers just told the crew they'd be briefed on the situation momentarily.

0853 GMT (4:53 a.m. EDT)

Flight director LeRoy Cain is getting a final assessment on the weather conditions before he makes the "go/no go" decision on the deorbit burn to bring Discovery home today.

0845 GMT (4:45 a.m. EDT)

Clocks are counting down to the deorbit burn now 30 minutes away. Officials are still working the weather to determine if it'll be safe to allow Discovery to head for landing at Kennedy Space Center at 6:22 a.m. this morning.

0827 GMT (4:27 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is passing over the equator west of South America to begin its 202nd orbit of the mission.

0819 GMT (4:19 a.m. EDT)

Chief NASA astronaut Kent Rominger aboard the Shuttle Training Aircraft just made a dive into Runway 15 to evaluate the weather conditions. There's still some low clouds in the area around 700 feet.

0810 GMT (4:10 a.m. EDT)

After a clearing of the low clouds over the past half-hour, more clouds seem to be moving in again.

0800 GMT (4:00 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is flying over the extreme southern Pacific southeast of Australia on its 201st orbit of Earth. The "go/no go" for this upcoming deorbit burn opportunity will come around 4:55 a.m. EDT, or 20 minutes before the engine ignition time. The clouds have cleared over the Cape, with stars now visible again. But the overall weather situation remains dynamic.

0731 GMT (3:31 a.m. EDT)

Meteorologists are carefully monitoring the low clouds over the Cape and the chance for showers to develop within 30 miles of the runway.

0729 GMT (3:29 a.m. EDT)

The final deorbit burn opportunity this morning for landing at Kennedy Space Center would see the orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Discovery ignite at 5:15:08 a.m. EDT. The burn would last three minutes and eight seconds, slowing the shuttle by over 300 feet per second to slip from orbit for the hour-long fall back to Earth. Landing on Runway 15 would occur a few seconds before 6:22 a.m. EDT.

0716 GMT (3:16 a.m. EDT)

LANDING DELAYED. Low clouds that could hamper commander Eileen Collins' view of the runway on final approach have forced a delay in this morning's landing. The shuttle will circle the Earth one more time and target a deorbit burn at 5:15 a.m. for landing on the Kennedy Space Center three-mile runway at 6:22 a.m. EDT.

0715 GMT (3:15 a.m. EDT)

Weather evaluations are still being made. The astronauts, meanwhile, are closing Discovery's vent doors in preparation for entry.

0709 GMT (3:09 a.m. EDT)

Entry flight director LeRoy Cain will be making the final "go/no go" decision for the deorbit burn in the next few minutes. He is receiving another weather update from meteorologists in Houston on the observed and forecast conditions at Kennedy Space Center. Also, chief NASA astronaut Kent Rominger continues to fly weather reconnaissance around the runway in the Shuttle Training Aircraft to gauge unexpected low clouds that have formed in the area.

0659 GMT (2:59 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Jim Kelly has completed the auxiliary power unit prestart, which positions switches in the cockpit in the ready-to-start configuration. One of the three APUs will be started just prior to the deorbit burn.

0651 GMT (2:51 a.m. EDT)

The official landing forecast is now calling for a broken deck of clouds at 1,000 feet, which would violate weather rules. The crew has been told to press ahead with entry preparations in case the conditions improve in time for the first deorbit burn opportunity at 3:40 a.m. If weather is deemed "no go" for this entry opportunity, Discovery would make another orbit of Earth and target a deorbit burn 5:15 a.m. for landing at 6:22 a.m.

0649 GMT (2:49 a.m. EDT)

A low cloud deck over Kennedy Space Center has become the main concern for this first of two landing opportunities this morning.

0640 GMT (2:40 a.m. EDT)

Now 60 minutes till the deorbit burn to brake from space. The final "go/no go" decision to begin the entry is about 40 minutes away.

0636 GMT (2:36 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts have been given a "go" for their fluid loading protocol of drinking large amounts of fluids to assist in the readaptation to Earth's gravity.

0635 GMT (2:35 a.m. EDT)

Flight controllers just told the astronauts that some showers have popped up within 30 miles of the runway, which would be a constraint to entry. Also, some clouds between 700 and 1,000 feet have been noted over the Cape. However, meteorologists continue to remain optimistic the conditions will clear in time for the deorbit burn to allow Discovery's descent from space for landing on time at 4:47 a.m. this morning.

0618 GMT (2:18 a.m. EDT)

Commander Eileen Collins just radioed that the myriad of switches in the cockpit are verified set in the correct positions.

0559 GMT (1:59 a.m. EDT)

At this point in the deorbit preparation timeline, the astronauts are scheduled to conduct a review of procedures amongst themselves one final time before entry. They will begin donning their orange launch and landing partial pressure suits a quarter-hour from now.

0545 GMT (1:45 a.m. EDT)

CAPCOM Ken Ham has given the crew an update on the deorbit burn ignition time and firing duration. The burn now starts at 3:39:42 a.m. and should last three minutes and 9 seconds.

0539 GMT (1:39 a.m. EDT)

Now two hours away from the scheduled three-minute, 12-second firing of Discovery's twin orbital maneuvering system engines to drop from orbit. Landing is still set for Kennedy Space Center's Runway 15 at 4:47 a.m. EDT.

0510 GMT (1:10 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's clam-shell-like payload bay doors have been closed and locked in preparation for today's fiery descent into Earth's atmosphere and landing at Kennedy Space Center.

There are no problems to report this morning. The weather forecast for Florida is optimistic. Touchdown is expected a few seconds before 4:47 a.m. EDT.

Also, Mission Control has given the crew a "go" to transition Discovery's onboard computers from the OPS-2 software used during the shuttle's stay in space to OPS-3, which is the software package that governs entry and landing.

And Discovery will soon maneuver to a new orientation in space to improve the communications link with NASA's orbiting data relay satellites.

0505 GMT (1:05 a.m. EDT)

While cruising over the nighttime South Pacific, Discovery's payload bay doors are swinging shut in preparation for today's entry and landing.

0458 GMT (12:58 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control just told the astronauts current observed conditions at the Kennedy Space Center are "go" for landing with a few clouds at 5,000 and 9,000 feet and broken at 22,000 feet with light and variable winds. The official forecast for landing time calls for a few clouds at 2,000 and 10,000 feet and a slight chance of showers within 30 miles primarily over the water. But meteorologists say the possibility of showers could be removed from the forecast soon. The desired runway selection remains Runway 15 -- the northwest to southeast approach.

Given this favorable weather outlook, the "go" has been given for payload bay door closing.

0442 GMT (12:42 a.m. EDT)

Chief NASA astronaut Kent Rominger is flying weather reconnaissance around Kennedy Space Center this morning. He is not reporting any developing fog.

Closure of Discovery's payload bay doors is coming up in about 20 minutes.

0412 GMT (12:12 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts are marching through the deorbit preparations timeline to ready themselves and Discovery for return to Earth about four-and-a-half hours from now. The weather forecast appears favorable for landing time. The slight chance of showers within 30 miles of the runway and ground fog are the only worries at this time.

0330 GMT (11:30 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Discovery's Return to Flight mission is scheduled to conclude with a landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center early Monday morning.

Discovery has two opportunities to land at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday. The first begins with a 3 minute, 7 second deorbit burn of the Orbital Maneuvering System engines at 3:40 a.m., followed by landing at 4:47 a.m. EDT.

In the event weather prevents landing on that first opportunity, a second is available, with deorbit burn at 5:15 a.m. resulting in a 6:22 a.m. landing. It will be the 15th night landing in Florida and 20th overall for the Space Shuttle Program.

Weather forecasters predict favorable conditions with good visibility and only a slight chance of showers over the water in the vicinity of the three-mile-long landing strip. The backup site at California's Edwards Air Force Base was not activated for Monday.

The crew was awakened at 8:39 p.m. by the song "Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners. It was played for Discovery's Commander Eileen Collins from the Mission Control Team.

Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson, who also serves as Discovery's Flight Engineer, and Mission Specialist Andy Thomas will be on the flight deck for landing. Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda will be on Discovery's middeck.

After its departure Saturday, Discovery is now about 200 miles away from the International Space Station and increasing that gap by about 9 miles each time it orbits the Earth. Onboard the Station, Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA Station Science Officer John Phillips have returned to their normal schedule, waking up at 2 a.m. Monday.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2005
1300 GMT (9:00 a.m. EDT)

Shuttle commander Eileen Collins and pilot James Kelly tested Discovery's re-entry systems today while their crewmates packed up for landing Monday at the Kennedy Space Center. With forecasters predicting good weather, entry flight director LeRoy Cain said his team is psyched up and ready for NASA's first shuttle re-entry since Columbia disintegrated over Texas two-and-a-half years ago.

"It's great to be here. We've looked forward to this for a long time, we've looked forward to this mission for a long time, we've had a great test flight, we've learned a lot about the vehicle and as you know, in the past couple of years we've learned a lot about ourselves," Cain told reporters early today.

"There's been a lot of good change. We're looking forward, we're not looking back. The team is in great spirits, we're all very excited and anxious. We will come in and we'll do the job tomorrow just like we'd do on any entry and landing day."

Read our full story.

0315 GMT (11:15 p.m. EDT Sat.)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Discovery's astronauts will begin turning their attention toward coming back to Earth Monday by stowing equipment and verifying operation of the orbiter's flight control surfaces and system. The crew was awakened at 8:39 p.m. EDT by "The One and Only Flower in the World" sung by the Japanese group SMAP. It was played for Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson, who also serves as Discovery's Flight Engineer, will checkout the orbiter's flight control system at 11:39 p.m. The three also will test the Reaction Control System with a hot fire of the jets at 12:49 a.m.

In the meantime, Noguchi, along with Mission Specialists Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda will put away equipment that has been in use during the mission. Noguchi and Thomas will stow the Ku-band communications antenna at 9:19 a.m.

The entire group will gather on Discovery's flight deck and take a moment to answer questions from reporters at 4:06 a.m.

After its departure Saturday, Discovery is now about 90 miles away from the International Space Station and increasing that gap by about 8 miles each time it orbits the Earth.

Onboard the Station, Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA Station Science Officer John Phillips are returning to their normal schedule, waking up at 2 a.m. Sunday. They are enjoying a restful weekend after nearly 9 full days of work with the Shuttle crew.

Discovery's crew is scheduled for sleep at 12:39 p.m.

The final press briefing before entry is scheduled for 7:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2005
0948 GMT (5:48 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is 18,000 feet away from the station and continuing to separate. Aboard the shuttle, the astronauts have just berthed the 50-foot robot arm for the remainder of the mission. The crew will be enjoying some off-duty time starting in the next hour or so.

0906 GMT (5:06 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle Discovery undocked from the international space station early today, wrapping up a successful repair and resupply mission. With pilot James Kelly at the controls, Discovery pulled away directly in front of the lab complex and then flew a loop around the station for a spectacular photo survey. Read our full story.

0905 GMT (5:05 a.m. EDT)

The final separation thruster firing is underway aboard Discovery.

0849 GMT (4:49 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle is now 1,900 feet above the station and departing at about three feet per second. The second departure burn upcoming will increase the separation speed ultimately to eight miles per orbit.

0837 GMT (4:37 a.m. EDT)

The first of two separation maneuvers using Discovery's reaction control system thrusters has been performed. The shuttle is back out in front of the docking port as the flyaround continues smoothly.

0823 GMT (4:23 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is now 446 feet below the station.

0812 GMT (4:12 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle continues its loop around the space station at a distance of 450 feet. Discovery is nearing a point directly behind the station.

0801 GMT (4:01 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is nearing a point about 440 feet directly above the space station.

0751 GMT (3:51 a.m. EDT)

Under the control of pilot Jim Kelly, Discovery has begun maneuvering from a point in front of the station to a point directly above the complex. The shuttle will perform a one-lap flyaround to photograph the station before an engine firing boosts Discovery away from the outpost a little more than an hour from now.

0746 GMT (3:46 a.m. EDT)

The Orbiter Docking System in the payload bay has been powered off.

0741 GMT (3:41 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle is just over 200 feet away from the station, continuing to move out in front of the orbiting outpost.

0733 GMT (3:33 a.m. EDT)

Discovery is now 117 feet from the station, backing away at about 0.2 feet per second. The shuttle is headed to a point about 400 feet away to begin a lap flyaround of the station.

0725 GMT (3:25 a.m. EDT)

The on-time undocking occurred as the station and shuttle flew 223 miles over the Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

0724 GMT (3:24 a.m. EDT)

UNDOCKING! The first space shuttle to visit the international space station in more than two-and-a-half years, delivering much-needed supplies and equipment, has successfully undocked from the outpost. Discovery is departing the station after a nine-day stay, headed for landing at Kennedy Space Center early Monday.

0722 GMT (3:22 a.m. EDT)

About two minutes until undocking. The command has been issued to begin driving open the hooks holding Discovery and station together. Once the hooks and latches are opened, one final command will be sent to undock the shuttle.

0719 GMT (3:19 a.m. EDT)

Five minutes from undocking. The steering jets on Discovery are inhibited for the period of physical undocking from the station. The separation occurs when large springs push the two craft apart. Once the shuttle is a couple feet away from the station and the docking devices are clear of one another, pilot Jim Kelly will fire Discovery's thrusters to continue the movement away.

0714 GMT (3:14 a.m. EDT)

All is in readiness for today's undocking of space shuttle Discovery from the international space station about 10 minutes from now. The station's solar arrays have been positioned edge-on to the shuttle to ensure they are no damaged from Discovery's thruster plumes, the shuttle-station stack has been maneuvered to the proper undocking attitude and the docking mechanism in the payload bay has powered up.

0530 GMT (1:30 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

After more than a week of working together in space, the Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews bid each other farewell tonight.

Following a crew farewell ceremony at 12:36 a.m. EDT, hatches between the spacecraft were closed at 1:14 a.m., with Discovery's undocking planned for 3:24 a.m. Saturday morning.

"The Air Force Song" was the Shuttle crew wake-up song for the day, played at 10:09 p.m. The song was dedicated to Pilot Jim Kelly, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, at the request of Commander Eileen Collins. Space Station Expedition 11 crewmates John Phillips and Sergei Krikalev woke 30 minutes later.

After Discovery undocks from the Station, with Kelly at the controls, the Shuttle will fly around the Space Station about 400 feet away to allow the Shuttle crew to take photographs of the complex. The flyaround maneuver will begin at 3:54 a.m., and Discovery's final separation from the Station begins with an engine firing at 5:09 a.m.

The majority of the rest of the day will be free time for Discovery and the Station crew. Discovery's crew, including Collins, Kelly and Mission Specialists Steve Robinson, Soichi Noguchi, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda, is scheduled for sleep at 12:39 p.m. Saturday.

The Station crew, which will soon begin working back toward its normal workday hours, is scheduled to sleep at 2:09 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2005

A "tiger team" of NASA and contractor engineers is reviewing the manufacturing history of the shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank to find clues about what might have caused a chunk of foam insulation to pop off during launch July 26. NASA officials said today that foam in the area that pulled away was slightly damaged during the tank's processing, requiring a standard repair for relatively routine cracks and gouges. Read our full story.

1920 GMT (3:20 p.m. EDT)

Discovery's astronauts have gone to bed after a good day in space. The Raffaello cargo module was detached from the space station and returned to the shuttle's payload bay this morning for the ride back to Earth. Also, the shuttle inspection boom was placed back in the orbiter.

The shuttle undocks from the station early Saturday at 3:24 a.m. EDT. The crew will spend Sunday packing equipment and testing Discovery's flight control systems for landing. Touchdown at Kennedy Space Center is targeted for 4:46 a.m. EDT (0846 GMT) Monday.

The path Discovery will follow into the Florida spaceport is illustrated here.

A detailed timeline of the entry, descent and landing events is available here.

0445 GMT (12:45 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Now in their eleventh day of the mission and with three successful spacewalks behind them, the STS-114 crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is slated to begin preparations for undocking and the final day with their International Space Station counterparts. Their activities for the day include final equipment transfers, stowage and return of the robotic arm, boom and cargo container to the Shuttle payload bay.

"Anchors Aweigh" was the Shuttle crew wake-up song for the day, played at 10:15 p.m. EDT. The song was dedicated to Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence at the request of Commander Eileen Collins. Space Station Expedition 11 crewmates John Phillips and Sergei Krikalev woke 30 minutes later.

The first tasks of the day center on preparation of the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) for its berthing back into Discovery's cargo bay. That module was removed from Discovery on Flight Day 4, mated to the Station and unloaded. Discovery and the MPLM are now loaded with 7,055 lbs. of unneeded equipment and trash for return to Earth.

Pilot Jim Kelly and Lawrence will operate the Station robotic arm later in the day to move Raffaello from the Station and gently place it back into Discovery's cargo bay at 7:34 a.m. EDT. Then, joined by Mission Specialists Charlie Camarda and Andy Thomas, the four will use the Shuttle arm to return the Orbiter Boom Sensor System to its secured position on the sill of the payload bay for the ride back to Earth.

Throughout the day, the on-orbit team will continue with stowing equipment on Discovery's middeck and configurations for undocking, including Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Steve Robinson and Thomas making final configurations and stowage of the spacesuits.

Both crews are scheduled for sleep at 2:09 p.m. EDT Friday with hatch closing and undocking scheduled early Saturday morning.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2005
1820 GMT (2:20 p.m. EDT)

NASA's mission management team today ruled out another shuttle repair spacewalk, this one to fix a damaged insulation blanket, saying a detailed analysis showed Discovery's crew can safely return to Earth as is. Read our full story.

1709 GMT (1:09 p.m. EDT)

NO FOURTH SPACEWALK. The Mission Management Team has ruled that the damaged white thermal blanket near the left-hand cockpit window does not pose a safety threat for Discovery's return to Earth. Mission Control just radioed the shuttle crew with the news that a fourth spacewalk will not be necessary to deal with the blanket.

NASA plans a mission status briefing at 3 p.m. EDT to provide more details.

0425 GMT (12:25 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

After an eventful day supporting the third spacewalk of the mission, a light duty day of transfer activities, special events and time off lies ahead for the Space Shuttle Discovery crew as they begin their tenth day in space.

The seven-member Shuttle crew awoke to the well-known country song "Amarillo by Morning," performed by George Strait, at 11:09 p.m. EDT. Their Station counterparts, the Expedition 11 crew of Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer and NASA ISS Science Officer John Phillips, woke up 30 minutes later.

The morning includes an in-flight media interview for Commander Eileen Collins, and Mission Specialists Steve Robinson and Charlie Camarda. Elsewhere on the complex, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence will be performing a few robotic arm operations, as they release the Station's Canadarm2 from the Mobile Base System and attach it to the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). That task is being done in preparation for return of the MPLM to Discovery's payload bay.

Midway through the crew day, at about 5:19 a.m. EDT, Japanese Aerospace and Exploration Agency Astronaut Soichi Noguchi and Collins will participate in a special video conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nariaki Nakayama. JAXA Astronaut Dr. Mamoru Mohri and several Japanese students and citizens will also participate in the call.

Later, Robinson, Camarda and Noguchi will continue stowage of equipment and supplies in the MPLM on the Shuttle and Space Station. Phillips and Krikalev will help with that activity as well before all of the crewmembers stop to share a special evening meal together.

About an hour later, at 8:04 a.m. EDT, the joint crews have planned a commemorative in-flight event paying tribute to the STS-107 Columbia crew. That event will air on NASA TV. The remainder of the day will be off-duty time for the Shuttle crew as they prepare for the final days of their mission.

Phillips and Krikalev will spend about two hours configuring the Common Berthing Mechanism for the MPLM removal before ending their workday with routine daily planning conference with ground controllers.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2005
1815 GMT (2:15 p.m. EDT)

With a successful spacewalk repair job today, engineers believe the shuttle Discovery's heat shield is in good shape for re-entry and landing Monday. But one question mark remains: What, if anything, to do about a damaged insulation blanket just below commander Eileen Collins' left cockpit window. Read our full story.

1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)

Like an anxious mom plucking out splinters, astronaut Stephen Robinson gently pulled two dislodged gap fillers from the shuttle Discovery's belly early today in an unprecedented 223-mile-high repair job. Read our full story.

1451 GMT (10:51 a.m. EDT)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of the airlock has begun, officially concluding today's successful spacewalk by Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson at about 10:49 a.m. EDT for a total duration of 6 hours and 1 minute.

1446 GMT (10:46 a.m. EDT)

A collection of pictures from this morning's gap filler retrieval is posted here.

1439 GMT (10:39 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's outer airlock hatch has been closed.

1432 GMT (10:32 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle's new inspection boom is being used to examine the damaged insulation blanket just below left cockpit window. You can see a close-up image here.

1428 GMT (10:28 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are making their way back into Discovery's airlock in the payload bay.

1348 GMT (9:48 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalk is now passing the five-hour mark. meanwhile, some additional inspections of that damaged thermal blanket below the commander's cockpit window is upcoming using the shuttle's robot arm.

1340 GMT (9:40 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers continue their housekeeping work as the EVA nears completion.

1312 GMT (9:12 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts sound giddy after the successful repair job beneath the nose of space shuttle Discovery today. Spacewalker Steve Robinson, perched on the station's robot arm, removed with ease two protruding tile gap fillers that threatened to trigger dangerously high temperatures during the shuttle's fiery reentry.

1306 GMT (9:06 a.m. EDT)

Robinson remains beneath the shuttle, using his camera to shoot unique pictures of the vehicle's tiled belly.

1303 GMT (9:03 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts will be making their way into the clean up chores to put away tools and equipment, wrapping up this third successful spacewalk of Discovery's mission.

1255 GMT (8:55 a.m. EDT)

He's done it! With absolute ease, spacewalker Steve Robinson has gently pulled the second protruding gap filler from Discovery's belly.

1254 GMT (8:54 a.m. EDT)

The arm brakes are active again. Robinson is preparing to pluck out the second and final tile gap filler.

1250 GMT (8:50 a.m. EDT)

Communications between Robinson and arm operator Jim Kelly inside the Destiny lab module are continuing to get the arm positioned over the site of the second gap filler.

1247 GMT (8:47 a.m. EDT)

Robinson has put the gap filler into a trash bag attached to his suit. The arm will move the spacewalker into position to retrieve the second thin gap filler.

1246 GMT (8:46 a.m. EDT)

The station's robotic arm is now backing Robinson away from the shuttle, having removed the first gap filler with his gloved fingers.

1245 GMT (8:45 a.m. EDT)

"I'm pulling and it's coming out very easily," Robinson reports.

1245 GMT (8:45 a.m. EDT)

The arm motion has stopped and the brakes are on.

1244 GMT (8:44 a.m. EDT)

Robinson is giving precise directions of which way to move the arm to get into a good position for pulling out the first of two protruding gap fillers.

1243 GMT (8:43 a.m. EDT)

The arm is inching Robinson ever closer to reach the gap filler for this unprecedented and ultra-delicate job.

1241 GMT (8:41 a.m. EDT)

"Stand tall and lean forward," robot arm operator Jim Kelly is telling spacewalker Steve Robinson.

1239 GMT (8:39 a.m. EDT)

The station arm is moving Robinson up close and personal with the shuttle tiles.

1229 GMT (8:29 a.m. EDT)

Robinson remains en route to the first gap filler site on the port-side. He'll try pulling the gap filler with his fingers as the first course of action.

1219 GMT (8:19 a.m. EDT)

The station's robot arm is in motion now, ferrying Robinson away from the station's lab module area where he climbed aboard arm and configured his tools.

1218 GMT (8:18 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control has given the crew a "go" to proceed under Discovery for the gap filler work.

1214 GMT (8:14 a.m. EDT)

Noguchi is helping Robinson get ready for the never-before-attempted job of going under the shuttle for repair work. The spacewalkers are being extra cautious about tools dangling from Robinson's spacesuit that could bump the shuttle when the astronaut is within reach of the orbiter tiles.

1208 GMT (8:08 a.m. EDT)

Robinson has climbed into a foot platform attached to the end of the space station arm for the ride beneath Discovery.

1158 GMT (7:58 a.m. EDT)

Astronaut Steve Robinson will be perched on the end of the space station's robot arm to remove two protruding gap fillers from the underside of Discovery. The shuttle arm, extended by the observation boom, will use its cameras to monitor the work. You can see computer generated views of the spacewalk by clicking here.

1148 GMT (7:48 a.m. EDT)

Now three hours into the spacewalk.

1142 GMT (7:42 a.m. EDT)

Robinson is gathering the absolute essential tools -- no more and no less -- needed for the gap filler removal. He doesn't want to take too much beneath the orbiter and increase the risk of something banging into the heat-protection tiles. For more on the gap fillers and why they need to be cleared away, see our full story.

1133 GMT (7:33 a.m. EDT)

The relocation of the space station's Canadian-built robotic arm has been completed. The arm has an inch-worm capability to switch bases of operation. Earlier this morning the arm was anchored on the Destiny lab module with the free end being used to install the External Stowage Platform-2. Now, that once-free end has attached itself to the Mobile Base System on the S0 truss, becoming the arm's anchor. The other end has detached from Destiny, becoming the free end for use in positioning Steve Robinson under Discovery to remove the gap fillers a little while from now.

1127 GMT (7:27 a.m. EDT)

Robinson has removed and stowed the grapple fixture from the external platform for return to Earth. Noguchi has finished his work with MISSE-5 and started making his way down the P6 truss.

1109 GMT (7:09 a.m. EDT)

With MISSE-5 mounted to the station near the top of the P6 truss, Noguchi has opened the package to expose the materials to space.

1105 GMT (7:05 a.m. EDT)

Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi has climbed 60 feet above Discovery's payload bay to the space station's P6 solar array truss where he will attach an external experiment. The Materials International Space Station Experiment-5 (MISSE-5) is a suitcase-like package to be opened inside out, revealing a host of material samples to the space environment for extended exposure.

The astronauts retrieved the MISSE-1 and -2 packages during an earlier spacewalk on Discovery's mission for return to scientists on Earth. Those experiments had been outside the station since July 2001.

From a NASA news release:

"It's always exciting to see the things that come back down from space," said William Kinard, MISSE chief scientist. "There are always surprises. The real value and benefit in these experiments is seeing what you didn't originally expect."

The only way to test how different materials will perform in space is to test them in that environment. Laboratories can simulate just one or two space environmental factors at a time. The research from MISSE will provide the insight needed to develop materials for future spacecraft and will also help researchers make materials and coatings that will last longer on Earth.

Once MISSEs 1 and 2 are brought back to Earth, they will be returned to NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., where they will be opened and studied in a clean room by the project's principal investigators. After this initial examination, the materials will be transferred to the NASA centers from which they originated.

The Langley Research Center manages the MISSE project. Other partners include NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland; Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.; Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; Johnson Space Center, Houston; and Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.

Industry partners include the Boeing Company, Chicago; Hughes Aircraft Company, Torrance, Calif.; Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md.; Loral, Seabrook, Md.; Rockwell International, Richardson, Texas; and TRW, Redondo Beach, Calif.

Department of Defense partners are Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, Calif.; Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va.; and Air Force Research Lab, Dayton, Ohio.

1058 GMT (6:58 a.m. EDT)

Flight controllers are looking at shuffling the spacewalk timeline. The relocation of the station arm for use in the gap filler work is going quicker than expected. So the gap filler removal could happen sooner rather than later, and other work slated for the middle of the spacewalk shifted to the EVA's end.

1048 GMT (6:48 a.m. EDT)

As the spacewalk reaches the two-hour mark, Robinson is working to remove the robot arm grapple fixture on the External Stowage Platform-2. The fixture will be returned to Earth for use on a future station component. Meanwhile, Noguchi is preparing to deploy a suitcase-like materials exposure package on the station's exterior.

1033 GMT (6:33 a.m. EDT)

Robinson is connecting cabling to provide power and heating to the platform.

1027 GMT (6:27 a.m. EDT)

The station's robot arm is releasing the newly-installed platform. The arm will be repositioned in advance of its use later in the spacewalk to reach the tile gap filler areas on the underside of Discovery.

1017 GMT (6:17 a.m. EDT)

The alignment appears fixed and the spacewalkers are again driving the locking mechanisms to bolt the platform and station together.

1005 GMT (6:05 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are reporting some trouble tightening the locking bars due to misalignment. They will release the capture claw slightly in hopes of getting a better alignment.

0948 GMT (5:48 a.m. EDT)

Now one hour into today's EVA. The spacewalkers are tightening the capture claw and latching bolts and preparing to route cabling to the newly-installed platform.

0942 GMT (5:42 a.m. EDT)

The capture claw is closing, firmly joining the External Stowage Platform-2 to the international space station.

0940 GMT (5:40 a.m. EDT)

"Ready-to-latch" indicators have been achieved as the platform reaches its attachment point.

0935 GMT (5:35 a.m. EDT)

This is the 61st spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance and the third for Robinson and Noguchi, who logged 14 hours and four minutes of spacewalk time in two previous excursions. The cumulative total for the previous 60 spacewalks is 362 hours and 19 minutes by 53 astronauts and cosmonauts.

The primary goals of today's planned seven-hour excursion are to attach a massive external tool box to the space station's Quest airlock module; to mount an experiment package on the top of the station's solar array truss; and to remove two "gap fillers" sticking up between heat shield tiles on Discovery's belly.

The impromptu repair job was added to today's spacewalk because of uncertainty over what sort of damage might result if the gap fillers were left in place for re-entry. The concern was that the gap fillers, sticking up into the hypersonic wind flow across the belly of the shuttle, could trigger an early onset of turbulence that would result in higher downstream heating.

Read our preview story.

0933 GMT (5:33 a.m. EDT)

With the spacewalkers watching first-hand, Discovery astronauts Jim Kelly and Wendy Lawrence are operating the space station's robotic arm carrying the External Stowage Platform-2 from inside the Destiny lab module. The arm is beginning to move the platform within inches of its installation point.

0915 GMT (5:15 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are getting into position to assist with installation of the External Stowage Platform-2, which will hold spare parts and replacement units for the outpost. They've climbed from the shuttle airlock in the payload bay, up the side of the station's Destiny laboratory module and over to the Quest airlock module where the platform will be mounted.

"The External Stowage Platform -- now that's the kind of thing I really wish I had on my house -- is kind of a combination of a back porch and a garage, both at once," Steve Robinson said in a pre-flight interview.

"It's a flat platform that sticks out from the airlock on the space station, and of course being in space you can use both sides of it, not just one side -- now that would really be handy at home. But it's a place to keep spare parts, and it's got power. Any electrical instrument up there is going to need to be protected from the cold, so it needs heaters, so it needs power. This will be kind of a grid type of platform.

"The way we put it on is we have kind of a big adapter plate that I put on while I'm attached to the arm. I just hold it, attach it to the space station, bolt it on by hand, and that gives the External Stowage Platform a nice home to berth on. That's done with the robot arm while Soichi and I kind of watch and guide things. And then we cable it up ourselves. We each have a big, long cable that we route from one part of the space station onto the stowage platform. And then it should be ready for operation."

0852 GMT (4:52 a.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Space shuttle Discovery astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson put their spacewalking suits on internal battery power at 4:48 a.m. EDT, marking the official start time for this third EVA of the mission. This 7-hour excursion will mount a stowage platform to the space station's hull, deploy an experiments package and culminate later today with retrieval of tile gap fillers on the belly of Discovery.

The two men will be floating out of the airlock in the next few minutes to begin gathering tools and equipment needed. The first major task on the timeline is installing the External Stowage Platform-2 to the space station's exterior.

0847 GMT (4:47 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's airlock has been depressurized in preparation for the start of this morning's spacewalk. All activities are going well and the EVA should be getting underway shortly.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

The Space Shuttle Discovery crew begins their ninth day in space with preparations for the third spacewalk of the mission. This extravehicular activity (EVA) was a preplanned activity for the mission, but now includes a new task -- repair of two protruding gap fillers between tiles on the bottom the Shuttle.

The crew began the day waking up at 11:09 p.m. EDT to "Where My Heart Will Take Me," the theme song from Star Trek: Enterprise. The song, composed by Dennis McCarthy, was selected for the crew as a surprise dedication from the Deputy Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale. The International Space Station Expedition 11 crew of Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips woke 30 minutes later.

Mission Specialists Steve Robinson and Soichi Noguchi are scheduled to begin their third spacewalk at 4:14 a.m. EDT as they exit out of the Space Shuttle airlock. The two will be assisted by Andy Thomas, serving as the intravehicular officer overseeing the spacewalk from inside, as well as Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialists Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda who will be supporting various robotic arm activities throughout the day.

The spacewalk is scheduled to last about 7 hours. The first task entails Kelly and Lawrence maneuvering the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2), via the Station's robotic arm, which they pulled from Discovery's payload bay earlier today, onto the Station. As the ESP-2 reaches its final position, Robinson and Noguchi will guide the structure and secure it into place. With that task complete, Lawrence and Kelly will conduct a "walk off" maneuver of the Station robotic arm, by attaching the "free" end to the Mobile Base System and releasing the other end from the Destiny Laboratory module to where it will be needed as a platform for Robinson later in the EVA.

The two spacewalkers will move on to individual tasks, with Noguchi installing the Materials International Space Station Experiment-5 (MISSE-5), a materials experiment that will study the degradation of solar cell samples in the space environment. He'll then remove the Rotary Joint Motor Controller from the Space Station truss before proceeding to a support position to assist Robinson in his final tasks.

Meanwhile, Kelly will work with Camarda, using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System to inspect repair demonstration tiles inside the Shuttle's payload bay. Later, Camarda will also work with Krikalev and Phillips to continue stowing supplies and equipment inside Discovery and the Station. Discovery Commander Eileen Collins will monitor and supervise all the activities.

Robinson, now attached to the Station robotic arm, will attempt to repair two tile gap filler protrusions located on the underside of Discovery. He will first try to gently pull out the protruding material, and if need be, remove by trimming with a hacksaw.

Gap fillers are used in areas to restrict the flow of hot gas into the gaps between Thermal Protection System components. They consist of a layer of coated Nextel fabric and are normally about 0.020-inch thick. These protrusions were identified from photos taken during the rendezvous pitch maneuver conducted on flight day three, as Discovery approached the orbiting Space Station.

The crews are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:09 p.m. EDT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2005

Amid planning for an unprecedented shuttle heat-shield repair spacewalk Wednesday, engineers also are assessing the potential threat posed by a damaged insulation blanket just below commander Eileen Collins' left cockpit window. While engineers say the blanket poses no threat of heat damage during entry, there's a chance a small portion of the blanket could rip away in the lower, denser atmosphere and hit the shuttle's aft section. Read our full story.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

The Discovery astronauts said Tuesday they were initially concerned about the safety of a proposed spacewalk repair job Wednesday to remove two protruding "gap fillers" sticking out from heat-shield tiles on the shuttle's belly. But they are now convinced it's not only safe, but a relatively simple task that will eliminate any lingering concern about unwanted re-entry heating. Read our full story.

1520 GMT (11:20 a.m. EDT)

President George W. Bush phoned the Discovery and space station astronauts this morning, speaking with commander Eileen Collins.

THE PRESIDENT: Commander Collins, can you hear me?

COLLINS: Yes, sir, we hear you loud and clear. Good morning.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Thank you for taking my phone call. I just wanted to tell you all how proud the American people are of our astronauts. I want to thank you for being risk-takers for the sake of exploration. I want to welcome our Japanese and Australian and Russian friends. And I wish you Godspeed in your mission. I know you've got very important work to do ahead of you. We look forward to seeing the successful completion of this mission. And, obviously, as you prepare to come back, a lot of Americans will be praying for a safe return.

So it's great talking to you. Thanks for being such great examples of courage for a lot of our fellow citizens.

COLLINS: Thank you very much, Mr. President. We want to tell you that we really enjoy what we're doing, we really believe in our mission, and we believe in space exploration and getting people off the planet and seeing what's out there. So the steps that we're taking right now are really worth it, and we want everybody to know that. And thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, listen, I want to thank you, Commander, and thank your fellow astronauts there. I agree with you -- I think what you're doing is really important. And you've got a strong supporter for your mission here in the White House. I will tell you Laura went down and watched the launch in Florida, with my little brother, Jeb, and came back all excited about the energy that -- there on the East Coast of Florida. But we're with you, and wish you all the very best. Thanks for taking my phone call. Now get back to work.

COLLINS: Thank you very much, sir. We did fly over Texas today and had a good look at it. It was beautiful. Have a good day.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Laughter.)

0535 GMT (1:35 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

The Space Shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews will continue transferring equipment and supplies between the two vehicles today. They will also review updated tasks for the third planned spacewalk of the mission.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 11:09 p.m. EDT by the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain," by Harry McClintock for Mission Specialist Andy Thomas. The Space Station crew was awakened at 11:39 p.m. EDT by a tone onboard.

Mission managers decided to remove two gap fillers that are protruding from areas between heat-shielding tile on the Shuttle's underbelly. It is a relatively simple process that can be accomplished as an add-on task to Wednesday's spacewalk.

During the spacewalk, Mission Specialist Steve Robinson will venture under the Space Shuttle on the tip of the Station's robotic arm, locate the protrusions and gently tug until they come out. If that does not work, Robinson will have tools to cut off the protrusions.

Robinson, fellow spacewalker Soichi Noguchi and spacewalk choreographer Andy Thomas will spend time Tuesday assembling a hack saw for the removal job and reviewing the new procedure.

All of the Shuttle and Station crewmembers will participate in a news conference at 5:59 a.m. EDT. Krikalev and Phillips will be interviewed by reporters at Mission Control Moscow at 6:45 a.m. EDT. It will be replayed with translation on NASA TV at 7:15 a.m. EDT.

At 7:39 a.m. EDT Discovery Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence will grapple the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) and unberth it from Discovery's payload bay. This is in preparation for the hardware's installation at the beginning of Wednesday's spacewalk. Preparing the ESP-2 Tuesday provides the extra time for the tile gap filler task during the spacewalk.

Before the Shuttle and Station crews go to sleep, the hatch will be closed between the two vehicles and the Shuttle's cabin will be depressurized to 10.2 psi on the eve of the last spacewalk. The crews are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:09 p.m. EDT.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2005

A Discovery astronaut, working on the end of the space station's robot arm, will attempt to remove two protruding "gap fillers" sticking up from protective heat-shield tiles on the belly of the shuttle Discovery Wednesday during an already planned spacewalk, officials said today. Read our full story.

2100 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

NASA engineers are refining plans for an unprecedented but relatively straight forward spacewalk repair job Wednesday to remove two protruding "gap fillers" from the shuttle Discovery's underside heat shield tiles. While no spacewalking astronaut has ever been asked to work under the shuttle, out of direct view, engineers say the gap filler fix is not technically difficult or especially risky. Read our full story.

1559 GMT (11:59 a.m. EDT)

EVA ENDS. Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson completed today's successful spacewalk at 11:56 a.m. EDT for a duration of 7 hours and 14 minutes.

The two spacewalkers installed a new motion control gyroscope on the international space station today, but initial electrical checks failed. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi then was asked to disconnect and reseat three critical electrical cables and, after finding one that was a bit loose, the gyroscope powered up normally. Read our full story.

1425 GMT (10:25 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are completing some get-ahead tasks before they head back to the airlock. The primary job -- replacing the gyroscope -- went well this morning.

1352 GMT (9:52 a.m. EDT)

Mission control in Houston has confirmed that the new gyroscope is successfully installed and powered. It will take over six hours for the gyro's internal mechanism to spin up to 6,600 rpm.

The first attempt to activate the gyro didn't work because of a loose power connector. Soichi Noguchi found the problem and re-seated the connector.

1255 GMT (8:55 a.m. EDT)

The International Space Station has been fitted with a replacement control-stabilizing gyroscope by the spacewalkers.

1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have removed the new gyro from its launch platform in rear of space shuttle Discovery's payload bay. The unit is being set aside so that the failed gyro can be locked into the carrier platform for return to Earth. Once that is complete in the next few minutes, the astronauts will take the new device up to the station for installation. Everything continues to go smoothly in today's EVA.

1025 GMT (6:25 a.m. EDT)

Perched on the end of the space station's robot arm, Soichi Noguchi is carrying the 600-pound failed control gyroscope to the payload bay of shuttle Discovery. The spacewalkers unhooked electrical cables and unbolted the device a short time ago, allowing the astronauts to pull the gyro from the Z1 truss location. Once in the payload bay, the old unit will be temporarily stowed while the new gyro is lifted from the launch carrier.

0930 GMT (5:30 a.m. EDT)

Floating in the shuttle Discovery's airlock, astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 4:42 a.m. EDT to officially begin a high-priority spacewalk to replace one of the international space station's gyroscopes.

"All right! Let's get started," said Robinson as the two headed out into the shuttle's cargo bay.

This is the 60th spacewalk devoted to space station assembly and maintenance by 40 U.S. astronauts, 10 Russian cosmonauts, one Frenchman, one Canadian and one Japanese (Noguchi). Going into today's excursion, station spacewalk time totaled 355 hours and five minutes.

Read our full story.

0845 GMT (4:45 a.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson switched their suits to internal battery power at 4:42 a.m. EDT, marking the spacewalk's official start time for this EVA.

0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Now spacewalk veterans, Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for the second of three planned spacewalks today at 4:14 a.m. EDT. The sole objective of the 6 1/2-hour excursion is to replace a failed International Space Station attitude control gyroscope.

The pair will have about an hour of setup time after exiting Space Shuttle Discovery's airlock and positioning themselves at the Station's Z1 truss segment. Mission Control will shut down the failed Control Moment Gyroscope 1 (CMG1) about 5:09 a.m. EDT and then give a go for the spacewalkers to start removing it about 15 minutes later. Mission Specialist Andy Thomas will choreograph the activities from inside and relay information from Mission Control to the spacewalkers.

Noguchi will take the failed CMG to Discovery's cargo bay while riding the Station's robot arm. He will temporarily store it until the new gyro is removed and the old one can be placed in its carrier with Robinson's help. Noguchi will then carry the new gyro at the end of the robot arm to the Z1 truss. Discovery Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence will operate Canadarm2 for the spacewalk.

After it is installed, Station flight controllers will power up and check out the new gyroscope about 9:14 a.m. EDT and start it up at 9:39 a.m. EDT. With CMG1 replaced, the full complement of four gyroscopes will be available for Station operations. CMG2 has operated well since the spacewalkers restored power to it in the first spacewalk Saturday.

Inside the orbiting complex, Station residents Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips and Discovery Commander Eileen Collins and Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda will continue transferring equipment and supplies between the two vehicles. Collins will focus on collecting byproduct water from Discovery's power generation system for transfer to Station.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 11:09 p.m. EDT by the song "Walk of Life," by Dire Straits for Robinson. The Space Station crew was awakened at 11:39 p.m. EDT by a tone onboard.

The crews of Discovery and the Space Station are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:09 p.m. EDT.

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2005

Engineers are considering what, if anything, to do about two protruding "gap fillers" on the belly of the space shuttle Discovery that could trigger increased re-entry turbulence and localized, potentially dangerous, heating if they are left as is. Read our full story.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Transfers of additional water and supplies to the International Space Station will continue Sunday as the crew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery begins Flight Day 6. The STS-114 mission was formally extended by one day as mission managers Saturday decided to spend one more day docked to the ISS. Two additional collapsible water containers holding more than 10 gallons each are expected to be added to the cargo transfer list before the Shuttle leaves, bringing to 17 the number that will be left behind, a substantial increase in the amount of available water.

ISS Program Manager Bill Gerstenmaier said in a Saturday news conference that the program was very happy to have the additional supplies and that the station's consumables status had improved considerably with Discovery's visit.

Mission Manager Wayne Hale said Saturday that the added mission day will be added to the crew's schedule after the third spacewalk day.

Hale also noted Saturday that Discovery's protective tiles and thermal blankets passed review and are cleared for entry. Analysis continues on the reinforced carbon-carbon areas and two protruding gap fillers.

Also Sunday, astronauts will make preparations for the second spacewalk of the mission scheduled for Monday. Discovery's cabin pressure will be reduced to 10.2 psi to prepare Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for their work outside the spacecraft.

Space Shuttle and Space Station crewmembers will participate in two separate in-flight interviews. Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda will talk to reporters with ABC News, Fox News and NBC's "Meet the Press" at 6:49 a.m. EDT. Collins, Robinson, Noguchi and NASA ISS Science Officer John Phillips will speak with CBS News, CNN and Discovery Channel reporters at 8:39 a.m.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 12:11 a.m. EDT by the song "I'm Goin' Up," by Claire Lynch for Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence. The Space Station crew was awakened about the same time by a tone onboard.

The crews of Discovery and the Space Station are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:09 p.m. EDT.

SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2005

NASA's mission management team today extended the shuttle Discovery's flight by one day, giving the astronauts more time to assist and resupply the international space station's two-man crew, and concluded the shuttle's heat-shield tiles and insulation blankets are fit for a normal re-entry Aug. 8. Read our full story.

SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2005

Astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi wrapped up a smooth spacewalk today, testing heat-shield repair techniques, hot wiring one of the space station's gyroscopes and mounting an attachment device that later will hold a large external tool kit and spare parts box. Read our full story.

1636 GMT (12:36 p.m. EDT)

EVA ENDS. Repressurization of Discovery's airlock started at 12:36 p.m. EDT, marking the official completion time of this first of three spacewalks of the shuttle mission. The EVA lasted 6 hours and 50 minutes.

1604 GMT (12:04 p.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are making their way back into the airlock to wrap up today's successful EVA.

1515 GMT (11:15 a.m. EDT)

Today's spacewalk continues to progress smoothly. The GPS antenna replacement and the control moment gyro re-wiring task have been completed, along with a late-added job of retrieving an experiment package mounted on the station's hull.

1345 GMT (9:45 a.m. EDT)

The ESPAD structure has been mated to the station by the spacewalkers.

1300 GMT (9:00 a.m. EDT)

The next spacewalk task now underway is installation of the External Stowage Platform-2 Attachment Device (ESPAD) on the space station. The ESPAD structure and associated cabling are being mounted to the exterior of the Quest airlock module, a preparatory step so that the ESP-2 can be installed on top during this mission's third spacewalk late next week.

1230 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT)

Working the shuttle Discovery's cargo bay, astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi tested potential heat-shield repair techniques today, a major milestone in NASA's recovery from the Columbia disaster. Read our full story.

1115 GMT (7:15 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are in the back of the shuttle payload bay where damaged the tile/RCC panel repair demonstrations are being performed.

1000 GMT (6:00 a.m. EDT)

Astronauts Stephen Robinson and Soichi Noguchi began a planned six-and-a-half hour spacewalk today, a busy excursion highlighted by long-awaited tests of rudimentary tile and wing leading edge repair techniques that were developed in the wake of the Columbia disaster. Read our full story.

0946 GMT (5:46 a.m. EDT)

EVA BEGINS. Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson switched their suits to internal battery power at 5:46 a.m. EDT, marking the spacewalk's official start time for this planned 6.5-hour EVA.

0940 GMT (5:40 a.m. EDT)

Depressurization of the airlock is nearing completion.

0820 GMT (4:20 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control says the start of the EVA has been pushed back about an hour because spacewalk preparations for Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson aboard Discovery are running behind schedule.

0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

Astronauts Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will step outside for their first spacewalk, and the first of this mission, early Saturday. The six and a half hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin from Discovery's airlock at 4:44 a.m. EDT.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 11:43 p.m. EDT by the Japanese song "Sanpo," sung by a group of children, including Noguchi's. The Station crew was awakened at 12:09 a.m. EDT by a tone onboard. Noguchi and Robinson's spacewalk preparations, including a pure oxygen pre-breathe and exercise procedure, will get underway at 1:39 a.m., with Intravehicular (IV) crewmember Andy Thomas' assistance. The procedure will purge the spacewalkers' blood of nitrogen to prevent the painful symptoms of "the bends" while wearing their low-pressure spacesuits.

About the same time, Station Commander Sergei Krikalev and NASA Science Officer John Phillips will maneuver the Station's robotic arm into a position to support the spacewalk. At 1:55 a.m. the pair will "walk off" Canadarm2 from the Mobile Base System to the Destiny lab and change its operating base. The arm will be operated by Shuttle Pilot Jim Kelly and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence during the spacewalk to help install the External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) Attachment Device (ESPAD) onto Station.

After the excursion begins and the spacewalkers have completed about an hour of tool setup, the first task is to test thermal protection system repair techniques. Noguchi and Robinson will work side-by-side in Discovery's cargo bay at a pallet of purposely damaged orbiter heat shield samples. They will practice the Emittance Wash Applicator (EWA) repair of tile samples and the NOAX (Non-Oxide Adhesive eXperimental) repair of Reinforced Carbon-Carbon samples.

After the testing is complete, the pair will move on to their Station assembly tasks. They will install the ESPAD and associated cabling on the Station's Quest airlock so that the ESP-2 can be installed on top during the third spacewalk.

Next, Noguchi will replace a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna on the Station's truss structure. At the same time, Robinson will retrieve tools for the second spacewalk's Control Moment Gyroscope-1 replacement and swap connectors to restore power to the Station's CMG-2. The last job will be for both crewmembers to route cabling for the ESP-2 installation on the third spacewalk.

Once the spacewalk has begun and the Station's airlock's hatch is opened as an emergency door, the hatches between Discovery and Station will be re-opened so the crews can work together to support the spacewalk and continue transfer work. Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda, Krikalev, Phillips and Lawrence will continue transferring water and other equipment to the Station from Discovery and the Raffaello cargo module. The hatches will be closed before the end of the spacewalk again to allow the crew to re-enter the Shuttle airlock. Once the crew is inside and the Shuttle's airlock is repressurized, the hatches will be re-opened.

At 9:09 a.m., Kelly and Camarda are scheduled to perform additional surveys of Discovery's wing leading edge Reinforced Carbon-Carbon with the Shuttle arm and Orbiter Boom Sensor System. They will use the sensors to focus on seven areas of interest along the port wing.

The crews of Discovery and the Station are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:39 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2005

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin mounted a spirited defense of the shuttle program and the beleaguered external tank project Friday, saying virtually all of NASA's post-Columbia improvements to the huge tank worked as expected during Discovery's launching Tuesday. He said the space agency was not yet ready to rule out another shuttle flight before the end of the year. Read our full story.

1540 GMT (11:40 a.m. EDT)

NASA now says there were six target areas on Discovery being inspected with the boom today vs. the 11 the agency said earlier.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's astronauts have put the inspection boom back into action this morning, using the sensor/camera package to examine almost a dozen target sites on the shuttle's underside and wing leading edges. Although none of the areas are overly worrisome, engineers wanted a bit more data on the orbiter's thermal protection system.

1330 GMT (9:30 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle Discovery's crew was surprised and disappointed to learn about foam insulation falling off their ship's external tank during launch. Commander Eileen Collins said today the shuttle program should remain grounded until the problem is fixed, but she said talk of retiring the winged spaceplanes is premature. Read our full story.

0830 GMT (4:30 a.m. EDT)

The Italian-built Raffaello cargo-carrying module was lifted from Discovery's payload bay by the space station's robotic arm this morning. The arm maneuvered the barrel-shaped module and successfully mounted it to the station for unloading. The astronauts will open Raffaello later today to begin unloading the tons of equipment and supplies. The module will be put back into Discovery next week for return to Earth.

0425 GMT (12:25 a.m. EDT)

Here is the latest Mission Control status report:

The first full day of joint Space Shuttle and International Space Station operations will be highlighted by installation of a cargo transportation module, additional orbiter heat shield inspections and spacewalk preparations.

Discovery's crew was awakened at 11:39 p.m. EDT by the song "Vertigo" by U2 played for Pilot Jim Kelly. Capcom Shannon Lucid noted during the wakeup call that Kelly, whose nickname is "Vegas," was promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Air Force recently. The Station crew was awakened at 12:09 a.m. EDT by a tone onboard.

In this upcoming flight day, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence and Kelly will guide the Station's robot arm, Canadarm2, to pluck the Multi Purpose Logistics Module from Discovery's cargo bay and install it on the Station. The MPLM, called Raffaello, will be attached to the Station's Unity module. While the crew was asleep, the Station flight control team verified Unity's attach mechanism is ready for the addition.

Kelly and Station Flight Engineer John Phillips will walk Canadarm2 off of the Destiny lab beginning at 5:39 a.m. EDT, onto the Mobile Base System for situational awareness views from its cameras for the survey. Mission Specialist Charlie Camarda and Kelly will begin additional focused inspections of Discovery's heat shield using the Shuttle arm and Orbiter Boom Sensor System shortly after 6 a.m. Central time.

Once the MPLM is in place, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence and Station Commander Sergei Krikalev will begin activation of the module about 8:49 a.m. EDT and will enter about two hours later, at 10:49 a.m. EDT.

Commander Eileen Collins and Mission Specialist Andy Thomas will participate in interviews with the Associated Press Radio Network, National Public Radio and the CBS Radio Network at 6:19 a.m. EDT.

Additional preparations for Saturday's first spacewalk of the mission by Soichi Noguchi and Steve Robinson will continue during the day with a review of EVA procedures and a checkout of a small rescue device known as SAFER, for Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue, designed to allow an astronaut outside a spacecraft to return safety if they become untethered and separated from the spacecraft. Hatches between Discovery and Station will be closed as the Shuttle's cabin pressure is reduced to 10.2 psi for the pre-breathe period, during which spacewalkers will become gradually acclimated to the lower pressures of spacesuits.

The crews of Discovery and the Station are scheduled to go to sleep about 3:39 p.m. EDT.

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2005
1910 GMT (3:10 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle Discovery's crew might have dodged a bullet when a piece of foam debris broke away from an aerodynamic ramp on the side of the ship's external fuel tank during launch Tuesday. Had the foam broken away earlier, when the shuttle was deeper in Earth's atmosphere, the chunk could have hit the orbiter with potentially catastrophic results, engineers said today. Read our full story.

1350 GMT (9:50 a.m. EDT)

Discovery does pirouette, then docks to space station
Commander Eileen Collins guided the space shuttle Discovery to a picture-perfect docking