Space Shuttle Discovery

Two days ago I saw the space shuttle discovery. It was really cool, we actually got to see it fly over my house but my mom was a second late on seeing it. I am going to tell you a little about what I know and some other facts.

First off it does not look that beat up cause well they restored it is although humongous. Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS 41 D on August thirtyish, 1984, until its final landing during STS 133 on March 9, 2011. Discovery has flown more than any other spacecraft having completed 39 successful missions in over twenty seven years of service.

In 1984, Discovery became the third operational orbiter following Columbia and Challenger, and made its final touchdown at Kennedy Space Center on March 9, 2011 at 10:57:17 CST, having spent a cumulative total of almost a full year in space. Discovery has performed both research and International Space Station (I.S..S.) assembly missions. Discovery also flew the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis.

By its last mission, Discovery had flown 149 million miles (two hundred thirty eight million km) in thirty nine missions, completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit in over twenty seven years. Discovery is the Orbiter Fleet leader, having flown more flights than any other Orbiter Shuttle in the fleet, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew all three "return to flight" missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters: STS-26 in 1988, STS 114 in 2005, and STS 121 in 2006. Discovery flew the antepenultimate mission of the Space Shuttle program, STS 133, having launched on February twenty fourth, 2011. Endeavour flew STS 134 and Atlantis performed STS 135, NASA's last Space Shuttle mission. On February twenty fourth, 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 A to begin its final orbital flight.

It was carried for its very last mission into Virginia by this huge plane or jet thing. It is now in the nation air and space museum in Virginia.

NASA offered Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum for public display and preservation, after a month long decontamination process, as part of the national collection. Discovery replaced Enterprise in the Smithsonian's display at the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center in Virginia. Discovery was transported to Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17, 2012, and was transferred to the Udvar Hazy on April 19 where a formal welcome ceremony was held. Afterwards, at around 5: 30 pm, Discovery was rolled to its "final wheels stop" in the Udvar Hazy Center. To this day, it is being displayed like it’s just landed from space. It is as really neat space craft, the engines are huge and well it is really long I am so happy that I got to see it.

discovery(top)

other thing flying it to Va(bottom)