Challenges and Repairs: The Journey of Space Shuttle Discovery

The space shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center, with NASA confident that previous issues causing the Columbia disaster were resolved. However, foam insulation problems arose shortly after launch. The shuttle's robot arm inspected the thermal tiles for damage, revealing protruding materials that required an extra spacewalk for removal. Despite these challenges, the mission continued smoothly, and Discovery returned safely. Post-mission analysis led to the grounding of the shuttle fleet until insulation issues are addressed.

What issues were identified with the thermal tiles of the space shuttle Discovery?

What was the purpose of the extra spacewalk scheduled during the mission?

What was the outcome of the repair job performed by Astronaut Steve Robinson?

How did NASA Administrator Michael Griffin respond to the pre-flight safety checks?

What were the findings from the video and still images reviewed after the launch?