How about a spacecraft that defied gravity for 27 years? That is Space Shuttle Discovery. It stands before us a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of space exploration.
Discovery is more than just a machine. It is a symbol of our nation’s greatest achievements in space. NASA officially gave Space Shuttle Discovery to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum on April 19, 2012.
Let’s dive into some fascinating facts about this iconic orbiter. Space Shuttle Discovery completed 39 missions. It spent 365 days in space. Discovery orbited the Earth 5,830 times. It traveled a staggering 148,221,675 miles.
Did you know Discovery was named after ships of exploration? One such ship was Captain James Cook’s HMS Discovery. Another was Henry Hudson’s Discovery.
Space Shuttle Discovery was the third of NASA’s orbiters to fly. Its missions include some major technological and scientific achievements. Space Shuttle Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit in 1990. It also deployed the Ulysses solar probe that same year.
Discovery returned the space shuttle program to flight twice after devastating losses. These losses were the Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. The orbiter was flown by some remarkable individuals. Frederick Gregory was the first African American commander. Eileen Collins was the first U.S. female pilot. Even Mercury astronaut John Glenn flew on Space Shuttle Discovery at 77. He became the oldest person to fly in space at that time.
Space Shuttle Discovery was constructed with upgrades. It weighed 6,870 pounds less than Columbia. This was due to more use of AFRSI blankets instead of tiles.
The orbiter underwent a nine-month maintenance period in 1995. It was outfitted with cryogenic tanks and an external airlock. This prepared Space Shuttle Discovery for International Space Station missions.
Space Shuttle Discovery was decommissioned on March 9, 2011. NASA offered it to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. It is now a part of the national collection. Space Shuttle Discovery replaced Enterprise at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in 2011.
Look closely and you might notice some unique features. During construction, black tiles were placed near a window. These so-called teardrop tiles helped identify Space Shuttle Discovery.
Space Shuttle Discovery touched down for the last time at Kennedy Space Center. This concluded its final mission STS-133.
As you stand before Space Shuttle Discovery, remember its legacy. It embodies exploration, innovation, and the indomitable human spirit.