Space Shuttle Discovery

Short description: Space Shuttle orbiter (1984–2011)

Discovery

Discovery in orbit in 2011, during STS-133, the orbiter's final flight

Type| Spaceplane
Class| Space Shuttle orbiter
Manufacturer| Rockwell International
Technical details
Dry mass| 78,000 kilograms (172,000 lb)
Flight history
First flight| STS-41-D
August 30 – September 5, 1984
Last flight| STS-133
February 24 – March 9, 2011
Flights| 39
Fate| Retired
Space Shuttle Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Discovery rollout ceremony in October 1983 Discovery and SCA 905 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, November 6, 1983

Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter. The spaceplane was one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built.[1] Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft as of December 2024[update].[2] The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.[3]

Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger.[4] After the Challenger and Columbia accidents, Discovery became the oldest surviving orbiter. It embarked on its final mission, STS-133, on February 24, 2011, and touched down for the last time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9,[5] having spent a cumulative total of nearly a full year in space. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions, and also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit among other satellites.

Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis. The shuttle is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Construction milestones
* 3 Features and upgrades
* 4 Decommissioning
* 5 Flights
* 5.1 Flights listing
* 5.2 Mission and tribute insignias
* 6 Flow directors
* 7 Gallery
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## History

The name Discovery was chosen to carry on a tradition based on ships of exploration,[1] primarily HMS Discovery,[6] one of the ships commanded by Captain James Cook during his third and final major voyage from 1776 to 1779, and Henry Hudson's Discovery,[1] which was used in 1610–1611 to explore Hudson Bay and search for a Northwest Passage. Other ships bearing the name have included HMS Discovery[7] of the 1875–1876 British Arctic Expedition to the North Pole, and RRS Discovery, which carried the 1901–1904 Discovery Expedition to Antarctica, led by Captain Scott.[8]

Space Shuttle Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted the second and third Hubble service missions. It also launched the Ulysses probe and three TDRS satellites. Twice Discovery was chosen as the "Return To Flight" Orbiter, first in 1988 after the loss of Challenger in 1986, and then again for the twin "Return To Flight" missions in July 2005 and July 2006 after the Columbia disaster in 2003. Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who was 77 at the time, flew with Discovery on STS-95 in 1998, making him the oldest person to go into space at that time in history.[9]

Had plans to launch United States Department of Defense payloads from Vandenberg Air Force Base gone ahead, Discovery would have become the dedicated US Air Force shuttle.[10] Its first West Coast mission, STS-62-A, was scheduled for 1986, but canceled in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster.

On May 27, 1999, Discovery was launched on STS-96, the first shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station.[11]

Discovery was retired after completing its final mission, STS-133 on March 9, 2011. The spacecraft is now on display in Virginia at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an annex of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.[12]

In 2025, the Trump One Big Beautiful Bill had a rider from Texas federal lawmakers stating that a Shuttle was to be moved to Texas. The only federally owned shuttle remaining, Discovery, would be the shuttle that would be dismantled and moved, at a cost of over $300 million. It would likely be moved to Houston, but cannot leave the Smithsonian and transported to Texas without being taken apart.[13][14][15]

## Construction milestones

Date  | Milestone[8]

|

1979 January 29  | Contract Award to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California
1979 August 27  | Start long lead fabrication of Crew Module
1980 June 20  | Start fabrication lower fuselage
1980 November 10  | Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
1980 December 8  | Start initial system installation aft fuselage
1981 March 2  | Start fabrication/assembly of payload bay doors
1981 October 26  | Start initial system installation, crew module, Downey
1982 January 4  | Start initial system installation upper forward fuselage
1982 March 16  | Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, California
1982 March 30  | Elevons on dock, Palmdale
1982 April 30  | Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
1982 April 30  | Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 July 16  | Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 August 5  | Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale
1982 September 3  | Start of Final Assembly
1982 October 15  | Body flap on dock, Palmdale
1983 January 11  | Aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1983 February 25  | Complete final assembly and closeout installation, Palmdale
1983 February 28  | Start initial subsystems test, power-on, Palmdale
1983 May 13  | Complete initial subsystems testing
1983 July 26  | Complete subsystems testing
1983 August 12  | Completed Final Acceptance
1983 October 16  | Rollout from Palmdale
1983 November 5  | Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base
1983 November 9  | Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
1984 June 2  | Flight Readiness Firing
1984 August 30  | First Flight (STS-41-D)

## Features and upgrades

On the maiden voyage of Discovery: Judith Resnik, Henry Hartsfield, Michael L. Coats, Steven A. Hawley, Charles D. Walker, and Richard M. Mullane Discovery after booster separation on STS-121 Discovery approaching the ISS on STS-121, its 'teardrop' feature clearly visible Discovery sends the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit on April 25, 1990

During its construction, Discovery was fitted with several black tiles near the middle starboard window where there should have been white tiles. It is unknown if this was the result of a harmless manufacturing mishap or done intentionally to give a distinctive look to the shuttle. This feature has been called 'teardrop' and allowed Discovery to be told apart from the rest of the fleet without looking at its name, although often unnoticed by the uninitiated.[16]

The spacecraft weighed roughly 6,870 lb (3,120 kg) less than Columbia when it was brought into service due to optimalizations determined during the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger.[9] Discovery weighs 6 pounds (2.7 kg) heavier than Atlantis and 363 pounds (165 kg) heavier than Endeavour after further weight-saving adjustments were made.[17]

Part of the Discovery weight optimizations included the greater use of quilted AFRSI blankets rather than the white LRSI tiles on the fuselage, and the use of graphite epoxy instead of aluminum for the payload bay doors and some of the wing spars and beams.[18]

Upon its delivery to the Kennedy Space Center in 1983, Discovery was modified alongside Challenger to accommodate the liquid-fueled Centaur-G booster, which had been planned for use beginning in 1986 but was cancelled in the wake of the Challenger disaster.[19]

Beginning in late 1995, the orbiter underwent a nine-month Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) in Palmdale, California. This included outfitting the vehicle with a fifth set of cryogenic tanks and an external airlock to support missions to the International Space Station. As with all the orbiters, it could be attached to the top of specialized aircraft and did so in June 1996 when it returned to the Kennedy Space Center, and later in April 2012 when sent to the Udvar-Hazy Center, riding piggy-back on a modified Boeing 747.[9]

After STS-105, Discovery became the first of the orbiter fleet to undergo Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period at the Kennedy Space Center. Work began in September 2002 to prepare the vehicle for Return to Flight. The work included scheduled upgrades and additional safety modifications.[9]

## Decommissioning

Main article: Engineering:Space Shuttle retirement

SCA N905NA carrying Discovery on the last flyover of the National Mall at around 10:15 am EDT, during its 11:05 am landing at Dulles airport on April 17, 2012[20]

Discovery was decommissioned on March 9, 2011.[21][22] NASA offered Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum for public display and preservation, after a month-long decontamination process,[23] as part of the national collection.[24][25][26] Discovery replaced Enterprise, which was in the Smithsonian's display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center until 2011.[27][28][29] Discovery was transported to Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17, 2012, and was transferred to the Udvar-Hazy Center on April 19 where a welcome ceremony was held. Afterwards, at around 5:30 pm, Discovery was rolled to its "final wheels stop" in the Udvar-Hazy Center.[30][31]

Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz added a provision to the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act to spend $85 million to relocate a space vehicle that has flown astronauts into space, presumably Discovery because of the sponsors of the provision and previous legislation attempts, from the Udvar-Hazy Center to the Space Center Houston Museum in Texas.[32][33] While the Smithsonian estimated that the total cost of the transfer would be approximately $325 million, they also countered that ownership of the shuttle had been transferred to the museum and was no longer federal property, and that Congress did not have the ability to force a transfer.[34][35]

Enterprise and Discovery exchanged and Discovery on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

## Flights

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), one of the many satellites deployed from Discovery (photo from STS-48)

By its last mission, Discovery had flown 149 million mi (240 million km) in 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit over 27 years.[36] Discovery flew more flights than any other Orbiter Shuttle, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew both "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 ante-penultimate mission of the Space Shuttle program, STS-133, having launched on February 24, 2011. Endeavour flew STS-134 and Atlantis performed STS-135, NASA's last Space Shuttle mission. On February 24, 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39-A to begin its final orbital flight.[37]

### Flights listing

#  | Date  | Designation  | Notes  | Length of journey

|
|
|
|

1  | 1984-08-30  | STS-41-D | First Discovery mission: Judith Resnik became second American woman in Space. Three communications satellites were put into orbit, including LEASAT F2.  | 6 days, 00 hours,
56 minutes, 04 seconds
2  | 1984-11-08  | STS-51-A | Launched two and rescued two communications satellites including LEASAT F1.  | 7 days, 23 hours,
44 minutes, 56 seconds
3  | 1985-01-24  | STS-51-C | Launched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite.  | 3 days, 01 hours,
33 minutes, 23 seconds-
4  | 1985-04-12  | STS-51-D | Launched two communications satellites including LEASAT F3. Carried first incumbent United States member of Congress into space, Senator Jake Garn (R–Utah)  | 6 days, 23 hours,
55 minutes, 23 seconds
5  | 1985-06-17  | STS-51-G | Launched two communications satellites, Sultan Salman al-Saud becomes first Saudi Arabian in space.  | 7 days, 01 hours,
38 minutes, 52 seconds
6  | 1985-08-27  | STS-51-I | Launched two communications satellites including LEASAT F4. Recovered, repaired, and redeployed LEASAT F3.  | 7 days, 02 hours,
17 minutes, 42 seconds
7  | 1988-09-29  | STS-26 | Return to flight after Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, launched TDRS-3.  | 4 days, 01 hours,
00 minutes, 11 seconds
8  | 1989-03-13  | STS-29 | Launched TDRS-4.  | 4 days, 23 hours,
38 minutes, 52 seconds
9  | 1989-11-22  | STS-33 | Launched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite.  | 5 days, 00 hours,
06 minutes, 49 seconds
10  | 1990-04-24  | STS-31 | Launch of Hubble Space Telescope (HST).  | 5 days, 01 hours,
16 minutes, 06 seconds
11  | 1990-10-06  | STS-41 | Launch of Ulysses.  | 4 days, 02 hours,
10 minutes, 04 seconds
12  | 1991-04-28  | STS-39 | Launched DOD Air Force Program-675 (AFP-675) satellite.  | 8 days, 07 hours,
22 minutes, 23 seconds
13  | 1991-09-12  | STS-48 | Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS).  | 5 days, 08 hours,
27 minutes, 38 seconds
14  | 1992-01-22  | STS-42 | International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1).  | 8 days, 01 hours,
14 minutes, 44 seconds
15  | 1992-12-02  | STS-53 | Department of Defense payload.  | 7 days, 07 hours,
19 minutes, 47 seconds
16  | 1993-04-08  | STS-56 | Atmospheric Laboratory (ATLAS-2).  | 9 days, 06 hours,
08 minutes, 24 seconds
17  | 1993-09-12  | STS-51 | Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS).  | 9 days, 20 hours,
11 minutes, 11 seconds
18  | 1994-02-03  | STS-60 | First Shuttle-Mir mission; Wake Shield Facility (WSF). First Russian launched in an American spacecraft (Sergei Krikalev).  | 8 days, 07 hours,
09 minutes, 22 seconds
19  | 1994-09-09  | STS-64 | LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE).  | 10 days, 22 hours,
49 minutes, 57 seconds
20  | 1995-02-03  | STS-63 | Rendezvous with Mir space station. First female shuttle pilot Eileen Collins.[17] | 8 days, 06 hours,
29 minutes, 36 seconds
21  | 1995-07-13  | STS-70 | Launched TDRS-7.  | 8 days, 22 hours,
20 minutes, 05 seconds
22  | 1997-02-11  | STS-82 | Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-2).  | 9 days, 23 hours,
38 minutes, 09 seconds
23  | 1997-08-07  | STS-85 | Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes (CRISTA).  | 11 days, 20 hours,
28 minutes, 07 seconds
24  | 1998-06-02  | STS-91 | Final Shuttle/Mir Docking Mission.  | 9 days, 19 hours,
55 minutes, 01 seconds
25  | 1998-10-29  | STS-95 | SPACEHAB, second flight of John Glenn, who was 77 years of age at that time, the oldest man in space and third incumbent member of Congress to enter space. Pedro Duque became the first Spaniard in space.  | 8 days, 21 hours,
44 minutes, 56 seconds
26  | 1999-05-27  | STS-96 | First Space Shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station[17] | 9 days, 19 hours,
13 minutes, 57 seconds
27  | 1999-12-19  | STS-103 | Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-3A).  | 7 days, 23 hours,
11 minutes, 34 seconds
28  | 2000-10-11  | STS-92 | International Space Station Assembly Flight (carried and assembled the Z1 truss); 100th Shuttle mission.  | 12 days, 21 hours,
43 minutes, 47 seconds
29  | 2001-03-08  | STS-102 | International Space Station crew rotation flight (Expedition 1 and Expedition 2)  | 12 days, 19 hours,
51 minutes, 57 seconds
30  | 2001-08-10  | STS-105 | International Space Station crew and supplies delivery (Expedition 2 and Expedition 3)  | 11 days 21 hours,
13 minutes, 52 seconds
31  | 2005-07-26  | STS-114 | First "Return To Flight" mission since Space Shuttle Columbia disaster; International Space Station (ISS) supplies delivery, new safety procedures testing and evaluation, Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello.  | 13 days, 21 hours,
33 minutes, 00 seconds
32  | 2006-07-04  | STS-121 | Second "Return To Flight" mission since the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, owing to concerns surrounding foam debris from the external tank during STS-114; International Space Station (ISS) supplies delivery, test new safety and repair techniques.  | 12 days, 18 hours,
37 minutes, 54 seconds
33  | 2006-12-09  | STS-116 | ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the P5 truss segment); Last flight to launch on pad 39-B;
First night launch since Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.  | 12 days, 20 hours,
44 minutes, 16 seconds
34  | 2007-10-23  | STS-120 | ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Harmony module).  | 15 days, 02 hours,
23 minutes, 55 seconds
35  | 2008-05-31  | STS-124 | ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Kibō JEM PM module).  | 13 days, 18 hours,
13 minutes, 07 seconds
36  | 2009-03-15  | STS-119 | International Space Station crew rotation and assembly of a fourth
starboard truss segment (ITS S6) and a fourth set of solar arrays and batteries. Also replaced a failed unit for a system that converts urine to drinking water.  | 12 days, 19 hours,
29 minutes, 33 seconds
37  | 2009-08-28  | STS-128 | International Space Station crew rotation and ISS resupply using the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Also carried the C.O.L.B.E.R.T treadmill named after Stephen Colbert  | 13 days 20 hours, 54 minutes, 40 seconds
38  | 2010-04-05  | STS-131 | ISS resupply using the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. The mission also marked the first time that four women were in space and the first time that two Japanese astronauts were together on a space station.[38] Longest mission for this Orbiter.  | 15 days 2 hours, 47 minutes 11 seconds‡
39  | 2011-02-24  | STS-133 | The mission launched at 4:53 pm EST on February 24, was carrying the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) Leonardo, the ELC-4 and Robonaut 2 to the ISS.[39] Final flight of Discovery.  | 12 days 19 hours,
4 minutes, 50 seconds

‡ Longest shuttle mission for Discovery
– shortest shuttle mission for Discovery

### Mission and tribute insignias

NASA Orbiter Tribute for Space Shuttle Discovery Mission insignia for Discovery flights

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
STS-41-D | STS-51-A | STS-51-C | STS-51-D | STS-51-G | STS-51-I | STS-26 | STS-29
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
STS-33 | STS-31 | STS-41 | STS-39 | STS-48 | STS-42 | STS-53 | STS-56
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
STS-51 | STS-60 | STS-64 | STS-63 | STS-70 | STS-82 | STS-85 | STS-91
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
STS-95 | STS-96 | STS-103 | STS-92 | STS-102 | STS-105 | STS-114 | STS-121
|  |  |  |  |  |
STS-116 | STS-120 | STS-124 | STS-119 | STS-128 | STS-131 | STS-133

## Flow directors

The Flow Director was responsible for the overall preparation of the shuttle for launch and processing it after landing, and remained permanently assigned to head the spacecraft's ground crew while the astronaut flight crews changed for every mission. Each shuttle's Flow Director was supported by a Vehicle Manager for the same spacecraft. Space Shuttle Discovery's Flow Directors were:

* Until 01/1991: John J. "Tip" Talone Jr. (afterwards Flow Director for Endeavour)[40]
* 01/1991 – 09/1992: John C. "Chris" Fairey[40]
* 09/1992 – 10/1996: David A. King[41]
* 10/1996 – 05/2000: W. Scott Cilento[42]
* 12/2000 – 03/2011: Stephanie S. Stilson[43]

## Gallery

100px  | 100px  | 100px  | 100px  | 100px

|
|
|
|

The launch of STS-41-D, Discovery's first mission | STS-121 launched on July 4, 2006 – the only Shuttle to launch on Independence Day | STS-119 on the night of March 11, 2009 | Discovery sits atop a modified Boeing 747 as it touches down at the Kennedy Space Center following STS-128 | Discovery lands after its first flight, STS-41-D
| 100px  | 100px  | 100px  | 100px
Discovery performing the Rendezvous pitch maneuver during STS-114 prior to docking with the International Space Station | The Space Shuttle Discovery soon after landing at the end of STS-114 | Modified Boeing 747 carrying Discovery after STS-128 | STS-124 comes to a close as Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space Center | Discovery's final touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's runway, concluding the STS-133 mission and Discovery's 27-year career

## See also

* List of human spaceflights
* List of Space Shuttle crews
* List of Space Shuttle missions
* Timeline of Space Shuttle missions

## References

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NASA (2007). "Space Shuttle Overview: Discovery (OV-103)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html.
2. ↑ "Most re-used spacecraft". https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/75333-most-re-used-spacecraft#:~:text=The most re-used spacecraft is the Space Shuttle,between 30 August 1984 and 9 March 2011..
3. ↑ "10 Cool Facts About NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery | Space Shuttle Retirement". Space.com. April 18, 2012. http://www.space.com/15327-space-shuttle-discovery-10-cool-facts.html.
4. ↑ "Discovery's last mission flight to space begun". February 24, 2011. http://www.scibuff.com/2011/02/24/discoverys-last-trip-to-space-begins/.
5. ↑ "Discovery's Final Touchdown A Success". redOrbit.com. http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/2009363/discoverys_final_touchdown_a_success/.
6. ↑ "Discovery (OV-103)". http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/discovery.html.
7. ↑ "How Did the Space Shuttle Discovery Get Its Name?". February 22, 2011. http://www.space.com/10908-space-shuttle-discovery-names-origin.html.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Discovery (OV-103)". NASA/KSC. http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/discovery.html.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Space Shuttle Overview: Discovery (OV-103)". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html.
10. ↑ "Part II. Discovery (OV-103)". Space Transportation System Haer No. TX-116. NASA.gov. http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/2.pdf.
11. ↑ "STS-96 - NASA". https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-96.html.
12. ↑ "Space Shuttle Discovery Joins the National Collection". April 12, 2011. http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=256.
13. ↑ Kelsey Ables (24 October 2025). "GOP lawmakers raise pressure on Smithsonian over space shuttle fight". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/10/24/discovery-space-shuttle-smithsonian-houston/.
14. ↑ Josh Dinner (22 October 2025). "The Smithsonian might have to cut space shuttle Discovery into pieces to get it to Texas". SPACE.com. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/the-smithsonian-might-have-to-cut-space-shuttle-discovery-into-pieces-to-get-it-to-texas.
15. ↑ Maggie Roth (1 July 2025). "Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Includes Provision to Move the Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas". Northern Virginia Magazine. https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/07/01/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-includes-provision-to-move-the-space-shuttle-discovery-to-texas/.
16. ↑ "Tire marks and teardrop tiles: Smithsonian curator on shuttle Discovery at 30 years | collectSPACE". http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-082914a-shuttle-discovery-30th-anniversary.html.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Space Shuttle Discovery Facts". Florida Today. April 10, 2011. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110408/NEWS0208/110408015/Space-Shuttle-Discovery-facts.
18. ↑ "STS-41D Press Kit". NASA. August 1984. p. 13. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_012_STS-41D_Press_Kit.pdf. "Graphite epoxy has replaced some internal aluminum spars and beams in the wings and in the payload bay doors."
19. ↑ Lardas, Mark (2012). Space Shuttle Launch System: 1972–2004. Osprey Publishing. p. 37.
20. ↑ Pearlman, Robert Z. (April 17, 2012). "Space Shuttle Discovery lands, for the last time, in Washington, D.C.". The Christian Science Monitor. https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0417/Space-Shuttle-Discovery-lands-for-the-last-time-in-Washington-D.C. Retrieved April 17, 2012. "The air- and spacecraft duo landed at Washington Dulles International Airport at 11:05 am EDT (1505 GMT).".
21. ↑ "Consolidated Launch Manifest". NASA. 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/iss_manifest.html.
22. ↑ Bergin, Chris (2006). "NASA sets new launch date targets through to STS-124". NASASpaceflight.com. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/04/nasa-sets-new-launch-date-targets-through-to-sts-124/.
23. ↑ Chow, Denise (March 9, 2011). "Space Shuttle Discovery Lands on Earth After Final Voyage". SPACE.com. http://www.space.com/11080-space-shuttle-discovery-final-landing.html.
24. ↑ Pearlman, Robert (2008). "NASA seeks shuttle suitors: Museums may need to cover the costs for retired orbiters". collectspace.com. http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-121708a.html.
25. ↑ "NASA Solicits Ideas for Displaying Retired Space Shuttles and Main Engines" (Press release). NASA. December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
26. ↑ Berger, Eric (December 7, 2009). "Discovery is Smithsonian's". Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6756689.html.
27. ↑ Pearlman, Robert Z. (March 17, 2010). "NASA Primes Retired Test Shuttle Enterprise For One Last Flight". Space.com. http://www.space.com/8049-nasa-primes-retired-test-shuttle-enterprise-flight.html.
28. ↑ "news – "NASA readies retired test shuttle Enterprise for one last flight"". collectSPACE. March 15, 2010. http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-031510a.html.
29. ↑ "NYC, L.A., Kennedy Space Center, Smithsonian to get the 4 retired space shuttles". USA Today. April 12, 2011. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/04/kennedy-space-center-air-and-space-museum-likely-to-get-2-of-the-4-retiring-shuttle-vehicles/1.
30. ↑ "Welcome, Discovery!". Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/discovery.cfm.
31. ↑ Associated Press/NBC Washington (January 24, 2012). "Udvar-Hazy Center Getting a 2nd Space Shuttle". NBC Washington. http://www.nbcwashington.com/the-scene/events/Space-Shuttle-Discovery-headed-to-the-Smithsonian-137975898.html.
32. ↑ Pearlman, Robert (2025-07-11). ""It's a heist": Senator calls out Texas for trying to steal shuttle from Smithsonian" (in en). https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/07/its-a-heist-senator-calls-out-texas-for-trying-to-steal-shuttle-from-smithsonian/.
33. ↑ 119th Congress (July 4, 2025). "H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act". US Government. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text.
34. ↑ Roth, Maggie (July 1, 2025). "Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Includes Provision to Move the Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas". Northern Virginia Magazine. https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2025/07/01/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-includes-provision-to-move-the-space-shuttle-discovery-to-texas/.
35. ↑ Dinner, Josh (30 July 2025). "'The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery.' Museum resists Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' plan to move space shuttle to Houston". Space.com. http://www.space.com/space-exploration/the-smithsonian-institution-owns-the-discovery-museum-resists-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-plan-to-move-space-shuttle-to-houston.
36. ↑ Dunn, Marcia (March 9, 2011). "Space shuttle Discovery lands, ends flying career". Salt Lake Tribune. Associated Press. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/51395407-68/discovery-space-nasa-shuttle.html.csp.
37. ↑ Travis, Matthew (February 24, 2011). "STS-133 space shuttle Discovery launches for the final time". The Spacearium, SpaceflightNews.net via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eovKxCccMc.
38. ↑ Four Women, Two Japanese in Space at Same Time Asian American Press, April 8, 2010
39. ↑ "Shuttle Discovery takes off on its final flight". CNN. February 24, 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/24/nasa.shuttle/index.html?npt=NP1.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Malone, Lisa (January 8, 1991). "KSC Names Two Space Shuttle Flow Directors". http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/status/r5-91.ksc.
41. ↑ "NASA – KSC Names David King as Shuttle Discovery's Flow Director". http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/1992/65-92_prt.htm.
42. ↑ "KSC Release No. 120-96". http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1996/120-96.htm.
43. ↑ KSC, Kay Grinter (June 6, 2013). "Kennedy Biographies". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/biographies/stilson.html.

## External links

* Mission Summary Archive
* Return to Flight mission STS-114 and STS-121
* Shuttle Orbiter Discovery (OV-103)
* Night Launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery
* Discovery on Servicing Mission 3A at ESA/Hubble site
* Pictures of preparations for a launch of Discovery
* A Space Shuttle's Final Rollout – slideshow by Life magazine
* April 16, 2007: Consolidated Launch Manifest: Space Shuttle Flights and ISS Assembly Sequence.
* Transition and Retirement: Hi-res spherical panoramas of the processing
* Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. TX-116-A, "Space Transportation System, Orbiter Discovery (OV-103), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX", 121 photos, 14 measured drawings, 28 photo caption pages

* v
* t
* e

Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)

Completed flights|

* STS-41-D
* STS-51-A
* STS-51-C
* STS-51-D
* STS-51-G
* STS-51-I
* STS-26
* STS-29
* STS-33
* STS-31
* STS-41
* STS-39
* STS-48
* STS-42
* STS-53
* STS-56
* STS-51
* STS-60
* STS-64
* STS-63
* STS-70
* STS-82
* STS-85
* STS-91
* STS-95
* STS-96
* STS-103
* STS-92
* STS-102
* STS-105
* STS-114
* STS-121
* STS-116
* STS-120
* STS-124
* STS-119
* STS-128
* STS-131
* STS-133

Status|

* Retired

On display|

* Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington, D.C.

Related|

* Destiny in Space (1994 documentary)

* v
* t
* e

Space Shuttle program

* Space Shuttle
* List of missions
* List of crews

Components|

* Space Shuttle orbiter
* Solid Rocket Booster
* External Tank
* Main Engine
* Orbital Maneuvering System
* Reaction control system
* Thermal protection system
* Booster separation motor

Orbiters|

* Enterprise
* Columbia
* Challenger
* Discovery
* Atlantis
* Endeavour

Add-ons|

* Spacelab (ESA)
* Canadarm (CSA)
* Extended Duration Orbiter
* Remote Controlled Orbiter
* Spacehab
* Multi-Purpose Logistics Module

Sites|

* Kennedy Space Center LC-39
* Vandenberg SLC-6
* Landing sites
* Shuttle Landing Facility
* Abort Landing Sites

Operations
and training|

* Missions (canceled)
* Crews
* Mission timeline
* Rollbacks
* Countdown
* Abort modes
* Rendezvous pitch maneuver
* Shuttle Mission Simulator
* Shuttle Training Aircraft

Testing|

* Inspiration (design)
* Pathfinder (simulator)
* MPTA (engine mounts)
* MPTA-ET (external tank)
* Approach and Landing Tests

Disasters|

* Challenger disaster (report)
* Columbia disaster (report)

Support|

* Crawler-transporter
* Mate-Demate Device
* Mobile Launcher Platform
* NASA recovery ship
* Orbiter Processing Facility
* Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL)
* Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
* flights
* Shuttle Training Aircraft
* STS-3xx

Special|

* Deutschland-1
* Getaway Special
* Teacher in Space Project
* Shuttle-Mir
* Hitchhiker

Space suits|

* Extravehicular Mobility Unit
* Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit
* Launch Entry Suit
* Advanced Crew Escape Suit

Experiments|

* Freestar experiments
* Inflatable Antenna Experiment
* Spartan Packet Radio Experiment
* Shuttle pallet satellite
* Wake Shield Facility

Derivatives|

* Saturn-Shuttle (canceled)
* Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle
* Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
* Jupiter
* Shuttle-C
* Ares
* Space Launch System

Replicas|

* Independence

Related|

* Space Shuttle design process
* Inertial Upper Stage
* Payload Assist Module
* International Space Station
* Criticism
* Retirement
* Conroy Virtus
* The Dream Is Alive (1985 documentary)
* Space Shuttle America
* Rendezvous
* Space Shuttle Project
* Shuttle
* Space Shuttle
* Space Shuttle Mission 2007
* Orbiter simulator

* v
* t
* e

Space Shuttle and Buran-class orbiters

| United States Space Shuttle program (orbiters)| Soviet/Russian Buran programme (orbiters)

|

* Challenger (OV-099, destroyed in 1986)
* Enterprise (OV-101, atmospheric tests, retired in 1979)
* Columbia (OV-102, destroyed in 2003)
* Discovery (OV-103, retired in 2011)
* Atlantis (OV-104, retired in 2011)
* Endeavour (OV-105, retired in 2011)
* Pathfinder (OV-098, ground tests)

* OK-GLI (Buran Analog BST-02, aerotester)
* Buran (Shuttle 1.01, destroyed in 2002)
* Ptichka (Shuttle 1.02, 95–97% completed)
* Baikal (Shuttle 2.01, incomplete)
* 2.02 (partially dismantled)
* 2.03 (dismantled)

* v
* t
* e

NASA

Policy and history|

| History|

* NACA (1915)
* National Aeronautics and Space Act (1958)
* Space Task Group (1958)
* Paine (1986)
* Rogers (1986)
* Ride (1987)
* Space Exploration Initiative (1989)
* Augustine (1990)
* U.S. National Space Policy (1996)
* CFUSAI (2002)
* CAIB (2003)
* Vision for Space Exploration (2004)
* Aldridge (2004)
* Augustine (2009)

|

General|

* Space Race
* Administrator and Deputy Administrator
* Chief Scientist
* Astronaut Corps
* Ranks and positions
* Chief
* Budget
* Spin-off technologies
* NASA TV
* NASA Social
* Launch Services Program
* Mercury Control Center
* Kennedy Space Center
* Vehicle Assembly Building
* Launch Complex 39
* Launch Control Center
* Operations and Checkout Building
* Johnson Space Center
* Mission Control
* Lunar Sample Laboratory

Robotic programs|

| Past|

* Hitchhiker
* Mariner
* Mariner Mark II
* MESUR
* Mars Surveyor '98
* New Millennium
* Lunar Orbiter
* Pioneer
* Planetary Observer
* Ranger
* Surveyor
* Viking
* Project Prometheus
* Mars Scout
* Mars Exploration Rover

|

Current|

* Living With a Star
* Lunar Precursor Robotic Program
* Earth Observing System
* Great Observatories program
* Explorer
* Small explorer
* Voyager
* Discovery
* New Frontiers
* Solar Terrestrial Probes
* Commercial Lunar Payload Services

Human spaceflight
programs|

| Past|

* X-15 (suborbital)
* Mercury
* Gemini
* Apollo
* Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (with the Soviet space program)
* Skylab
* Space Shuttle
* Shuttle–Mir (with Roscosmos State Corporation)
* Constellation

|

Current|

* International Space Station
* Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
* Commercial Crew Development
* Orion
* Artemis
* Lunar Gateway

Individual featured
missions
(human and robotic)|

| Past|

* COBE
* Mercury 3
* Mercury-Atlas 6
* Magellan
* Pioneer 10
* Pioneer 11
* Galileo
* GALEX
* GRAIL
* WMAP
* Space Shuttle
* Sojourner rover
* Spirit rover
* LADEE
* MESSENGER
* Aquarius
* Cassini
* Dawn
* Kepler space telescope
* Opportunity rover
* RHESSI
* observed

|

Currently
operating|

* Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
* 2001 Mars Odyssey
* New Horizons
* International Space Station
* Hubble Space Telescope
* Spitzer
* Swift
* THEMIS
* Mars Exploration Rover
* Curiosity rover
* timeline
* InSight
* GOES 14
* Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
* GOES 15
* Van Allen Probes
* Solar Dynamics Observatory
* Juno
* Mars Science Laboratory
* timeline
* NuSTAR
* Voyager 1
* Voyager 2
* WISE
* MAVEN
* MMS
* OSIRIS-REx
* Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

Future|

* Joint Polar Satellite System
* James Webb Space Telescope
* Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope
* Mars 2020
* NISAR
* Europa Clipper

Communications
and navigation|

* Near Earth Network
* Space Network
* Deep Space Network (Goldstone
* Madrid
* Canberra
* Space Flight Operations Facility)
* Deep Space Atomic Clock

NASA lists|

* Astronauts
* by name
* by year
* Gemini astronauts
* Apollo astronauts
* List of NASA aircraft
* List of NASA missions
* uncrewed missions
* List of NASA contractors
* List of United States rockets
* List of NASA cancellations
* List of Space Shuttle missions
* crews
* List of NASA cameras on spacecraft

NASA images
and artwork|

* Earthrise
* The Blue Marble
* Family Portrait
* Pale Blue Dot
* Pillars of Creation
* Mystic Mountain
* Solar System Family Portrait
* The Day the Earth Smiled
* Fallen Astronaut
* Lunar plaques
* Pioneer plaques
* Voyager Golden Record
* Apollo 11 goodwill messages
* NASA insignia
* Gemini and Apollo medallions
* Mission patches

Related|

* Apollo 15 postal covers incident
* Space Mirror Memorial
* The Astronaut Monument
* U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
* Space program on U.S. stamps
* Apollo 17 Moon mice
* Other primates in space
* NASA spinoff technologies

* Category

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