Space Shuttle Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery was a standout in NASA's Space Shuttle program, being the third of five fully operational orbiters constructed. Making its debut flight in 1984, Discovery completed an impressive 39 missions over 27 years, earning the title of the spacecraft with the most spaceflights in history.

Discovery's missions were as diverse as they were significant. It played a crucial role in research, assisted in the assembly of the International Space Station, and even launched the iconic Hubble Space Telescope. Named after historic exploration ships, Discovery carved out its own place in space history with notable achievements.

Among its myriad missions, Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope, the Ulysses probe, and the TDRS satellites. It also participated in "Return to Flight" missions following the Challenger and Columbia disasters and carried astronaut John Glenn, who at the time became the oldest person to fly in space.

When Discovery retired in 2011, it found a new home at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Throughout its operational life, the shuttle underwent numerous upgrades and modifications, including weight optimizations and enhancements to support its missions to the International Space Station.

The process of decommissioning and preparing Discovery for display was meticulous. By the end of its career, Discovery had traveled a staggering 149 million miles across its 39 missions, spending a full year in orbit. Today, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the spirit of exploration, continuing to inspire visitors at the Udvar-Hazy Center.