Photos: Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Voyage (to Museum)

By Space.com Staff
published

Stephanie Stilson at Kennedy Space Center

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.

Space Shuttle Discovery Rolling into Orbiter Processor Facility-2

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.

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

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.

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

NASA/Bill Ingalls

Workers monitor the lift of the space shuttle Discovery from the top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).

Space Shuttle Discovery Ready For Demate

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.

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

NASA/Bill Ingalls

Workers monitor the lift of the space shuttle Discovery from the top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

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.

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

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.

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

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

Shuttle Discovery Detached From Carrier Plane

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.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.