Discovery's coming home...

[trekkiedane]

...for the last time, in a couple of hours:

You can watch it on-line from NASA-TV here.

 

[trekkiedane]

20 minutes to touchdown!

 

[Omnius]

Farewell Discovery! Where's OV-103A?

 

[Candlelight]

Journey's End for Space Shuttle Discovery...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americ...as-space-shuttle-Discovery-ends-flying-career

(^ link plays video on launch)

Discovery has ended its career as the world's most flown spaceship, returning from orbit for the last time and taking off in a new direction as a museum piece.
After a flawless trip to the International Space Station, Nasa's oldest shuttle swooped through a few wispy clouds on its way to its final touchdown.
"To the ship that has led the way time and time again, we say, 'Farewell Discovery,'" declared Mission Control commentator Josh Byerly.
When it landed three minutes before noon EST (5.57am today, NZ time), Discovery ceased being a reusable rocketship.
"For the final time: wheels stop," commander Steven Lindsey called out when the shuttle rolled to a stop. He was the last of the six crew members to climb out of the shuttle.
Dozens of Nasa officials - flight directors, launch managers, former astronauts - joined the crew on the runway to admire the shuttle and pose for pictures.
"It's a pretty bittersweet moment for all of us," Lindsey said. "As the minutes pass, I'm actually getting sadder and sadder about this being the last flight."
Even after shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis make their final voyages in the coming months, Discovery will still hold the all-time record with 39 missions, 238 million kilometres, 5830 orbits of Earth, and 365 days spent in space. All that was achieved in under 27 years.
Discovery now leads the way to retirement as Nasa winds down the 30-year shuttle program in favor of interplanetary travel.
Nasa estimates it will take several months of work - removing the three main engines and draining all hazardous fuels - before Discovery is ready to head to the Smithsonian Institution. It will make the 1207km journey strapped to the top of a jumbo jet.

Sad and proud. Well done Discovery.

 

[Brian]

Re: Journey's End for Space Shuttle Discovery...

Here she is, returning home one last time...

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I just managed to catch the landing live. Had to admit that there was a lump in my throat as it came to a stop on the runway.

She was a fine ship.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Journey's End for Space Shuttle Discovery...

I'm gonna merge this with the other thread, since it has more replies.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Safely home.

I hope Discovery has a nice retirement. I don't know what they have planned for her, but hopefully she will be relocated to a museum where people will be able to visit and admire her.

 

[trekkiedane]

Safely home.

I hope Discovery has a nice retirement. I don't know what they have planned for her, but hopefully she will be relocated to a museum where people will be able to visit and admire her.

Smithsonian (Near Dulles Airport)

 

[RJDiogenes]

Excellent.

 

[trekkiedane]

Excellent.

Indeed -but what are they going to do to the Enterprise then?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, they could send it to the Museum of Science in Boston, I suppose.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Excellent.

Indeed -but what are they going to do to the Enterprise then?

Haven't heard what they'll be doing with it, but I suppose many museums have vied for it. So glad I got to see it in Washington when I did