Space Shuttle Discovery Delivered to the Smithsonian

The Space Shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a modified 747 jet, flew over the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 2012 on its way to its permanent home at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.

NASA’s donation of the shuttle was recognized and celebrated during a special ceremony that followed its flight, landing, demating and towing.

One of the greatest, life-altering days within my last 30 years. I’m humbled and grateful to have taken part and experienced such a monumental moment in the history of time, space(flight), aeronautics, NASA, and human history.

Here are the posts I published upon my return from ‘Discovery Day. Make sure to check these out. I managed to capture some pretty stunning photos and conversed with some pretty awesome people: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

flashback: (1) my first trip to D.C. while coming back from South Carolina with family (2) me, present day (there was something on the mirror…I don’t keep things in my beard)

p.s., I’m in love with that hat. It’s from the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. The one pin is a shuttle, commemorating the retirement of Discovery - which is when I got the hat/pins - the other pin is for the Orion Crew Capsule they debuted to the public. Best day of my space-enthused life.

themagicofreality:

Discovery by Sam Commarato

(Source: thedemon-hauntedworld)

spacewatching:

Watching a successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from the roof of the Launch Control Center are (left to right) Astronaut Eileen Collins (in flight suit) with unidentified companions, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, Astronaut Robert Cabana, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and U.S. President Bill Clinton. This was the first launch of a Space Shuttle to be viewed by President Clinton, or any President to date. They attended the launch to witness the return to space of American legend John H. Glenn Jr., payload specialist on mission STS-95. Collins will command the crew of STS-93, the first woman to hold that position. Cabana will command the crew of STS-88, the first Space Shuttle mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of the International Space Station, targeted for liftoff on Dec. 3 [1998 - ed].

Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-29 and TDRS-4
Today in 1989: Space Shuttle Discovery launched on the STS-29 mission. A few hours after launch, it deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-4. A high-fidelity model of a first generation TDRS hangs directly above Space Shuttle Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

More to Discover* | Space Shuttle Discovery Posts (sagansense)

photo credit (above photos): sagansense

asonlynasacan:

Judy Resnik on Discovery, 1984.

spacewatching:

Spectators at the NASA News Center at Kennedy Space Center get a birds-eye-view of Space Shuttle Discovery as it roars through a stray cloud after liftoff at 10:39 a.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114. It is the 114th Space Shuttle flight and the 31st for Discovery. The 12-day mission will end with touchdown at the Shuttle

cooltothepaw:

Click for 360 view of the Space Shuttle Discovery

crookedindifference:

The moon is framed between the Orbiter’s OMS pod and the Earth limb over the Atlantic Ocean as seen from the aft windows onboard Discovery on mission STS-95.

Manifest Destiny
A video depicting a time when people were not afraid to embrace the unknown.

spacewatching:

Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, beginning the STS-116 mission to the International Space Station. This is Discovery’s 33rd mission and the first night launch since 2003.

[A beautiful night launch caught in black and white - ed]

kaiyves:

thef-ingnewguys:

Today marks the 28th anniversary of STS-41-D, which was launched on August 30, 1984. On its maiden voyage,Discoverycarried Commander Hank Hartsfield, Pilot Mike Coats, Mission Specialists Mike Mullane, Steve Hawley, and Judy Resnik; and Payload Specialist Charlie Walker. The famous Zoo Crew carried out a six-day mission which included the launch of three communications satellites and the testing of OAST-1, a large solar panel that extended out from the payload bay.

Wooo! What a mission that was!

(via anndruyan)

ikenbot:

STS133 - Shuttle Discovery Stereoscopic “Wiggle”

n-a-s-a:

Discovery Visits the Space Station

Credit: Space Shuttle STS-133 Crew, Space Station Expedition 26 Crew, NASA 

spacewatching:

The Hubble Space Telescope drifts through space in this picture, taken by Space Shuttle Discovery during Hubble’s second servicing mission in 1997.

The 10-foot aperture door, open to admit light, closes to block out space debris. The observatory’s solar panels and foil-like thermal blankets are clearly visible. The solar panels provide power, while the thermal blankets protect Hubble from the extreme temperatures of space.