Shuttle Discovery's last flight

Discovery made its last flight today, however this flight was not into space but was atop a modified National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Boeing 747-100 (SCA) (N905NA) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to its new home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

 

The Discovery was the fleet leader of NASA's 3 surviving shuttles and performed its last space flight in March 2011.


Today's flight included low passes over Washington D.C. where thousands turned out to watch it pass.

Here we can see the NASA 747 and attached shuttle departing Kennedy Space Centre just after dawn Photo: Reuters from the Guardian

Here we can see the NASA 747 and shuttle landing a Washington Dulles Airport (KIAD) Photo: Reuters

Over the next two days, the Shuttle will be lifted off its perch atop the 747 and be prepared for the official handover to the Smithsonian on Thursday.

The shuttle flew 39 missions in more than 27 years of service. It is the world's most travelled space ship. The Discovery which took its name from the 18th century British exploratory vessel HMS Discovery captained by James Cook spent a total of 365 days in orbit over its lifetime, and marks the end of the shuttle era.

NASA who ended the shuttle program in the Summer of 2011 is already moving on. With the $100bn Space Station now complete. They are to focus on building a new generation of space ship that can carry astronauts beyond the station's 240 mile high orbit.


Sources: The Guardian
                MSN
                Wikipedia page about the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 
                Wikipedia - Washington Dulles Airport