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Return To Flight Collection

"Return to Flight: A Journey of Resilience and Progress" In a momentous spacewalk


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"Return to Flight: A Journey of Resilience and Progress" In a momentous spacewalk, the final mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 on Pad 39A at Cape Canaveral marked the beginning of a new era. As NASA pilot Greg "Coach" Nelson prepared for ER-2 No. 806's return to flight on April 7, 2022, anticipation filled the air at Armstrong Flight. With meticulous care, Coach Nelson underwent thorough preparations by the air crew life support team before taking off in the ER-2. After three years of intensive maintenance, NASA's high-altitude aircraft soared once again into the skies. Meanwhile, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, memories from past missions lingered as Don Eitel carefully wrapped pieces of Columbia debris for storage in the Columbia Debris Hangar. Amy Norris joined him in packing some of the remnants stored within those walls - tangible reminders of both triumphs and tragedies. Back at NASA's facilities, progress was evident as all six divots of thermal insulation foam were successfully ejected from the flight test fixture on NASA's F-15B aircraft carrying thermal insulation foam. The F-18B chase aircraft shadowed its every move with unwavering vigilance. Mounted underneath NASA's F-15B flight test fixture were two panels adorned with Space Shuttle TPS insulation. These panels showcased five divots that had been flawlessly expelled during their journey through Earth's atmosphere. As post-flight inspections took place, it became clear that this return to flight symbolized not only resilience but also progress towards safer space exploration endeavors. With each successful milestone achieved and lessons learned from past experiences like Columbia tragedy etched into our collective memory, we forge ahead towards an exciting future among the stars.