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End of an Era
Credit: U.S. Air Force graphic/Corey Parrish, photo/Bobby Jones
After almost 27 years and 39 flights in Earth's orbit, the space shuttle Discovery arrived at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., April 17 on its way to its final resting place.
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Discovery Flies
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch
The last flight of the space shuttle Discovery flies over Joint Base Andrews, Md. on April 17, 2012. Discovery piggy -backed a ride on a jumbo 747 from NASA KTTS Landing Facility.
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Discovery Carried by NASA Aircraft
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katie Spencer
A NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying the space shuttle Discovery performs a fly-by, April 17, 2012 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. The aircraft landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va., before its transfer to the National Air and Space Museum. Discovery completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles.
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Shuttle Discovery Sits Atop Boeing Aircraft
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis
The space shuttle Discovery, sitting on top of a modified NASA Boeing 747 aircraft, flies over Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., April 17, 2012. The Discovery made its final voyage to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Virginia.
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Crowd Watches Shuttle Discovery
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis
A crowd watches as the space shuttle Discovery, sitting on top of a modified NASA Boeing 747 aircraft, taxis on the runway at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., April 17, 2012. The Discovery made its final voyage to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Virginia.
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Shuttle Discovery Flies Over Smithsonian Museum Home
Credit: NASA/Carla Cioffi
Spectators watch as space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) flies over the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Chantilly, Va. More than 6,000 spectators turned out to welcome Discovery to its museum home.
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Shuttle Discovery in Silhouette
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies into the sunrise above Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 17, 2012. The ferry flight, destined for Washington, D.C., marked the final departure for Discovery from its home for three decades. [See
full story.]
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Spot the Shuttle: Discovery's Final Fight - Tina Paul
Credit: Tina Paul
Shuttle spotter Tina Paul snapped this amazing photo of Discovery soaring over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Md., on April 17, 2012 as NASA delivered the shuttle to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for display. [See
full story.]
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Space Shuttle Discovery Over D.C.
Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) is seen from Top of the Town in Arlington, Virginia as it flies near the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Washington.
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Shuttle Discovery Flies Over Smithsonian Museum Home
Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) flies over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Washington. NASA will transfer Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum to begin its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space and to educate and inspire future generations of explorers.
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Fans Greet Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Shuttle Discovery
Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com
Some of the estimated 6,000 visitors to the Udvar-Hazy Center, northern Virginia, take photos of the SCA carrying retired shuttle Discovery on April 17, 2012.
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Spot the Shuttle: Discovery's Final Fight - Tina Paul
Credit: Tina Paul
Shuttle spotter Tina Paul snapped this amazing close-up of Discovery soaring over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Md., on April 17, 2012 as NASA delivered the shuttle to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for display. [See
full story.]
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Shuttle Discovery Flies Over Smithsonian Castle
Credit: James DiLoreto
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) flies near the Smithsonian Institution Castle, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Washington while en route to the National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to be put on display.
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The Little Astronaut
Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com
Among the estimated 6,000 visitors at the Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia greeting the arriving Space Shuttle Discovery was 8-year-old Alex Corica, from Carlisle, Penn. He dressed the part!
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery Flying Past Florida Beaches
Credit: NASA/R.D. Lee
Observers near the Cocoa Beach Pier watch as Discovery flies over area beaches. Image taken April 17, 2012. [See
full story.]
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery Flying by the Udvar-Hazy Center
Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com
Photographers snap pictures of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flying Discovery over the Udvar-Hazy Center, northern Virginia, on April 17, 2012.
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Eager Crowds Await the Flyover of Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Center
Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com
An estimated 6,000 people showed up at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center outside Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2012, to see the flyover of Space Shuttle Discovery.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Ferrying Shuttle Discovery Lands
Credit: NASA TV
The SCA carrying NASA's retired space shuttle Discovery landed at Washington Dulles Airport on April 17, 2012. [See
full story.]
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery Taxis After Arriving
Credit: NASA TV
The SCA carrying retired shuttle Discovery flew to Washington Dulles Airport, April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Museum Home
Credit: NASA/Smithsonian Institution/Dane Penland
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, at podium, speaks to those in attendance at Apron W after the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) with space shuttle Discovery mounted on top rolled to a halt at Washington Dulles International Airport, Tuesday, April 17, 2012 in Sterling, Va. NASA will transfer Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum to begin its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery About to Land
Credit: NASA/Paul E. Alers
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) approaches the runway at Washington Dulles International Airport, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Sterling, Va.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery Flies Over Udvar-Hazy Center
Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com
SPACE.com's Clara Moskowitz covered the landing of Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Center, northern Virginia, April 17, 2012. She writes: "The shuttle made three flyover passes over our heads to oohs and ahhs."
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Discovery and Shuttle Carrier Aircraft over the Lincoln Memorial
Credit: John Relph
John Relph sent this photo of Discovery and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft taken on April 17. 2012. He writes: "I met a friend ... on the Arlington Memorial Bridge.... It was a pretty good spot, especially since the first pass of the flight came down the Potomac. I think I felt a little let down by the experience. Let down because it was a little bit sad to see the end of an era. The shuttles will never fly again, except on the back of the SCA. But I was glad to finally see the Discovery in person."
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SCA Ferries Discovery Above the Cannon House Office Building
Credit: Mary Kuehn
Mary Kuehn sent a photo of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft ferrying Discovery over the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery over Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant
Credit: Chris Morin
Chris Morin sent this photo of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery shot on April 17, 2012. He writes: "Taken at DC Water Blue Plains Advanced Waste Water Treatment in Plant located [in] Washington, D.C."
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery near Capitol Dome
Credit: Meghan Jones
Meghan Jones sent in this photo of the SCA and shuttle Discovery taken on April 17, 2012. She writes: "It was amazing and definitely made the hair on the back of my neck stand up!! It was also really cool to see throngs of people on the mall there to see the flyover and show their support."
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SCA and Discovery over Tyson's Corner, VA
Credit: Steven Jin
Steven Jin sent in this photo and writes: "The Discovery flew over by our building in Tysons Corner, VA." Photo taken April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery Flying
Credit: Janae Freeman
Janae Freeman sends this photo of the SCA ferrying Discovery against a cloudy sky, taken on April 27, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery Seen Distantly from Andrews Air Force Base
Credit: Julie L. Zelek
Julie L. Zelek, Civ, DAF, sent in a photo taken April 17, 2012, and writes: "Small ... but I got it. Andrews AFB, MD."
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery in Flight
Credit: NASA TV
The SCA carrying shuttle Discovery flew to Washington Dulles Airport, April 17, 2012.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Flies Past the Capitol Dome
Credit: NASA/Smithsonian Institution/Harold Dorwin
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, is seen as it flies near the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Washington. Discovery, the first orbiter retired from NASA’s shuttle fleet, completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles. NASA will transfer Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum to begin its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space and to educate and inspire future generations of explorers.
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N905NA on Short Final
Credit: Richard H. Croop, Jr.
Richard H. Croop, Jr. took this photo of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (N905NA) on final approach to Washington Dulles International Airport, bringing Discovery on April 17, 2012. He says he was located "just off the end of the runway threshold for Runway One Right."
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Discovery and Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Flying Overhead
Credit: Sanjib Das
Sanjib Das took this photo of Discovery and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flying overhead, from the intersection of Virginia State Route 28 and Westfields Blvd.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft About to Land with Discovery
Credit: Anthony M. Rutkowski
Anthony M. Rutkowski sends this photo of Discovery and the SCA taken on April 17, 2012. He writes about it: "It was taken by myself from Rte 50 a few seconds before the final landing on runway 1R. It was special for me because I once worked at KSC and designed the very first Unified Launch Console as we were converting from the Apollo to the Shuttle programs."
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You're Looking the Wrong Way!
Credit: Josh Voigt
Josh Voigt sent this photo of his son and Discovery flying aboard the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, taken on April 17, 2012. He writes: "Here [are] a couple of shots I took of my son Nathan on the Mall this morning. Nathan is 19 months old. We live just northwest of Baltimore and drove to the Washington Mall early to see the sight.... We had an amazing experience."
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery Takes Off
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 7 a.m. EDT, April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Discovery Flying to Museum
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 7 a.m. EDT on April 12, 2012. Discovery is headed for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
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Shuttle Discovery Atop 747 Jet
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, is ready for its final ferry flight on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Discovery Flying to Museum
Discovery and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft departed Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility on April 17, 2012. It was the same runway where the shuttle last landed from space on March 9, 2011.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Takes Off for Washington
Credit: NASA TV
A modified Boeing 747 jet (the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) takes off with space shuttle Discovery riding piggyback to ferry the spacecraft from its home at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum display annex outside Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Carrying Discovery over Vehicle Assembly Building
Credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home flies over the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The duo took off from Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility at about 7 a.m. EDT, April 17, 2012.
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SCA and Discovery Just Taking Off
Credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 7 a.m. EDT, April 17, 2012.
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SCA and Discovery Await Takeoff
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home prepares to take off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 7 a.m. EDT, April 17, 2012.
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Discovery on SCA Taxiing on Runway
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home taxis to the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida preparing to take off at about 7 a.m. EDT, April 17, 2012.
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Cranes for Discovery
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Workers use two cranes to position the sling that will be used to demate the space shuttle Discovery, Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Apron W area of Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va.
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Discovery Flyover Best Viewing Sites Map
Credit: © 2012 Google/NASA
On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, between 10 and 11 a.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery atop a Boeing 747 jet will fly from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to the Smithsonian's NASM Udvar-Hazy Center and may be visible from the locations on this NASA map. If you take a photo of Discovery's ferry flight, please send it to SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik at
tmalik@space.com.
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Discovery Aboard Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
Credit: Johnson Space Center (via @NASA_Johnson)
Johnson Space Center tweeted this photo of shuttle Discovery
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Discovery Mated to Carrier Plane for Smithsonian Trip
Space shuttle Discovery was mated atop NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747, on Sunday, April 15, 2012 for the spacecraft’s upcoming ferry flight to the Smithsonian.
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Tails of Discovery and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft After Mating
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
As the sun rose on April 16, 2012, the tail ends of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and space shuttle Discovery were illuminated under the Shuttle Landing Facility's mate-demate device at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Shuttle Museum Delivery Mission Patch
Pilot Jeff Moultrie in the captain's seat of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Moultrie designed a ‘final mission’ patch for his crew’s shuttle museum deliveries, as shared with collectSPACE.com.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Moves Under Discovery
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft moves into position under space shuttle Discovery suspended 60 feet off the ground in the mate-demate device. The device, known as the MDD, is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it onto the back of the aircraft, or SCA. Photo taken April 15, 2012.
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Discovery Lifted in the Mate-Demate Device
Credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery slowly is lifted off the ground inside the mate-demate device in preparation for the arrival of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The device, known as the MDD, is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it onto the back of the aircraft, or SCA.
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Shuttle Discovery Set for Smithsonian Trip
Space shuttle Discovery, suspended in Kennedy Space Center's Mate-Demate Device, was delayed a day being lifted atop its jumbo jet ride to the Smithsonian due to winds on April 14, 2012.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Move Complete
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Space Shuttle Discovery’s move from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, is complete as the sun rises over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the SLF, Discovery will be secured on the back of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. The MDD is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it atop an SCA.
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Discovery Completes 3-Point Turn
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Space shuttle Discovery completes a three-point turnaround outside the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, for its trip to the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF. Its move got under way at 5 a.m. EDT, on April 14, 2012. Discovery was in storage in the VAB’s high bay 4 awaiting departure from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39 area for the final time.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Through Mate-Demate Device
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The newly arrived Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is seen through the platforms of the mate-demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo taken April 10, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Lands #2
Credit: collectSPACE.com/Robert Z. Pearlman
NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 10, 2012.
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Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Lands
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 10, 2012.
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John Glenn & Bob Cabana Inside Shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA
Senator John Glenn and Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana reminisce inside the flight deck of space shuttle Discovery in the Kennedy Space Center's Orbiter Processing Facility. Glenn flew on Discovery as a mission specialist in 1998 and Cabana served as pilot for Discovery during a mission in 1990 and another in 1992.
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NASA T-38 Jet and Shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA/Story Musgrave
Two NASA T-38 jets, like the one seen here in the foreground, will scout the skies ahead of space shuttle Discovery (background) arriving in Washington, D.C.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Payload Bay Doors Final Closure
Credit: collectSPACE.com/Robert Z. Pearlman
Space shuttle Discovery twin 60-foot payload bay doors were closed for a final time on Dec. 16, 2011 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
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Stephanie Stilson at Kennedy Space Center
Credit: NASA
Stephanie Stilson, NASA vehicle manager for Discovery, poses for a photo in January 2004. Stilson is now the shuttle transition and retirement flow director at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Rolling into Orbiter Processor Facility-2
Credit: NASA
Space shuttle Discovery rolls March 9, 2011 into Kennedy Space Center’s Orbiter Processing Facility-2 in Florida after its final mission STS-133. It will be readied for retirement and public display.
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The space shuttle Discovery is suspended from a sling held by two cranes after the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) was pushed back from underneath at Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Workers monitor the lift of the space shuttle Discovery from the top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).
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Space Shuttle Discovery Ready For Demate
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) with the space shuttle Discovery mated on top rolls into position for demating at Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Workers monitor the lift of the space shuttle Discovery from the top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The space shuttle Discovery is suspended from a sling held by two cranes shortly after the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) was pushed back from underneath at Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The space shuttle Discovery is suspended from a sling held by two cranes shortly after the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) was pushed back from underneath at Washington Dulles International Airport.
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The space shuttle Discovery is suspended from a sling held by two cranes shortly after the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) was pushed back from underneath at Washington Dulles International Airport
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Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Workers monitor the lift of the space shuttle Discovery from the top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).
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Space Shuttle Discovery Landing
Credit: NASA/Paul E. Alers
Space Shuttle Discovery mounted atop a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) approaches the runway for landing at Washington Dulles International Airport, Tuesday April 17, 2012, in Sterling, Va.
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Space Shuttle Discovery Ready For Demate
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) is seen a few hours before being demated at Washington Dulles International Airport, Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in Sterling, VA.
