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Discovery's Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly and mission specialists Mike Fossum, Piers Sellers, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson landed Monday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 9:14 a.m. EDT, July 17, 2006.

Click To View Northwest Airline Plane Crash Video News Story
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NTSB Preliminary Report

On May 10, 2005, at 1930 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51, N763NC, collided with an Airbus A-319-114, N368NB, during taxi resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes near gate G10, at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. Both airplanes were operated by Northwest Airlines Inc. (NWA) under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as scheduled-domestic passenger flights 1495 (N763NC) and 1849 (N368NB).

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time the accident. Both airplanes were evacuated after the collision. N763NC's captain received serious injuries, the first officer received minor injuries, and a flight attendant received minor injuries. One flight attendant aboard N368NB received minor injuries. One ramp service agent received minor injuries. N763NC departed Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), Columbus, Ohio, at 1826 eastern daylight time and with a scheduled destination to MSP.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is now officially known as the Lightning II. At a ceremony held July 7, 2006, in Fort Worth, Texas, defense officials and representatives of builder Lockheed Martin unveiled the first F-35 5th generation stealth fighter.

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In a written statement, the State Department said "This provocative act violates a standing moratorium on missile tests to which the North had previously committed. Regardless of whether the series of launches occurred as North Korea planned, they nevertheless demonstrate North Korea's intent to intimidate other states by developing missiles of increasingly longer ranges. We urge the North to refrain from further provocative acts, including further ballistic missile launches."

Several published reports indicate that the long range Taepo Dong 2 missile exploded some 35 seconds into its flight.

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"We're absolutely thrilled to be safely back in space again and are looking forward to evaluating shuttle system ascent performance as soon as possible," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

Discovery's mission, STS-121, is the second in NASA's Return to Flight sequence. For 12 days, Discovery's crew members -- Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers -- will continue testing new safety equipment and procedures that were introduced on the first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, last summer. They also will deliver equipment, supplies, experiments and spare parts to the station.

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Commanded by Steven Lindsey, Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts roared from Launch Pad 39B to begin a 15,000-mph chase to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

As Discovery raced into the bright blue sky, cheers and applause erupted across Kennedy and along the nearby beaches of Florida's Space Coast. Today's successful launch came on the third try after the first two attempts to launch were dashed by poor weather.

Now under way, Discovery and its crew set their sights on a mission to deliver equipment, supplies and an additional crewmember to the station. While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station.

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Discovery's a "Go" for Independence Day
After analysis of available data, the Mission Management Team has given a "go" for Tuesday's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station.

During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the external fuel tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. It is believed that the rain experienced during yesterday's launch attempt caused water to run down the feedline and form ice near the top of the strut next to the feedline bracket. As the tank warmed and expanded, the ice that formed most likely pinched the foam on the top of the strut, causing a crack and eventual loss of the small piece of foam. The Mission Management Team met Monday at 6:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the results of the infomation before making a final decision regarding Tuesday's launch attempt.

Currently, there is a 60 percent chance of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday according to Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. If the weather cooperates this will be the first Independence Day launch of a space shuttle.