Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Ride
Apr 18, 2012 06:13:59 #
I was glad I could get a shot of this historic event.
It was a different flight for Space Shuttle Discovery today as it hitched a ride from the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard, Fla., mounted atop a 747.
The plane soared 1,500 feet over the nation's capital, gliding over the Potomac River, Reagan Airport and National Mall before touching down at Dulles Airport.
After 39 trips into space, NASA's oldest surviving shuttle now will settle into its retirement home at the Smithsonian institution's facility at Dulles International Airport, just outside Washington, D.C. Space shuttle Enterprise will head to New York City. Endeavour will go to Los Angeles. Atlantis will stay at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Charles Bolden and other former NASA astronauts and staff will be awaiting the shuttle's arrival at Dulles.
"People get emotionally attached to the shuttle," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who watched the shuttle land with fellow former astronauts. "You bet we do."
Bolden flew two of his four space missions on Discovery, taking part in one of the most important deliveries: the Hubble telescope.
Bolden said Hubble "opened a totally new world, a totally new understanding of our universe."
It's been 27 years of spectacular discoveries. During that time, the shuttle logged nearly 143 million miles, carrying more crew members into space than any other vehicle.
Now, Discovery will remain grounded at the Smithsonian.
It was a different flight for Space Shuttle Discovery today as it hitched a ride from the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard, Fla., mounted atop a 747.
The plane soared 1,500 feet over the nation's capital, gliding over the Potomac River, Reagan Airport and National Mall before touching down at Dulles Airport.
After 39 trips into space, NASA's oldest surviving shuttle now will settle into its retirement home at the Smithsonian institution's facility at Dulles International Airport, just outside Washington, D.C. Space shuttle Enterprise will head to New York City. Endeavour will go to Los Angeles. Atlantis will stay at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Charles Bolden and other former NASA astronauts and staff will be awaiting the shuttle's arrival at Dulles.
"People get emotionally attached to the shuttle," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who watched the shuttle land with fellow former astronauts. "You bet we do."
Bolden flew two of his four space missions on Discovery, taking part in one of the most important deliveries: the Hubble telescope.
Bolden said Hubble "opened a totally new world, a totally new understanding of our universe."
It's been 27 years of spectacular discoveries. During that time, the shuttle logged nearly 143 million miles, carrying more crew members into space than any other vehicle.
Now, Discovery will remain grounded at the Smithsonian.
Apr 18, 2012 07:24:26 #
Great Shot. I live just outside of Huntsville, AL, where the Space Museum, NASA, etc. are located.
Apr 18, 2012 07:47:31 #
Great capture, truly a historical event. Double backup required. Welcome to UHH :thumbup:
Apr 18, 2012 07:55:15 #
Apr 18, 2012 14:46:34 #
vinnya
Loc: connecticut
nothing against LA or new york but would of liked if one of the shuttles went to the airforce museum in dayton ohio at wright patterson afb, with so many aircraft there it would of been a nice addition
Apr 18, 2012 14:49:21 #
Wizz wrote:
Not too shabby!I was glad I could get a shot of this historic event.
Apr 18, 2012 14:52:41 #
vinnya wrote:
Shuttle Endeavour will go to the Los Angeles Science Center because it landed in Southern California more than any other shuttle: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org Most of the satellites & space payloads delivered by the shuttles were built in L.A. County.nothing against LA or new york but would of liked if one of the shuttles went to the airforce museum in dayton ohio at wright patterson afb, with so many aircraft there it would of been a nice addition
Shuttle Enterprise will go to the Sea, Air and Space Museum aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier, NYC harbor: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org . It is estimated that more people will visit this venue than any other location suitable for a shuttle display.
P.S. The shuttles are not USAF aircraft. They are not eligible to be displayed at Wright Patterson AFB.
Apr 18, 2012 15:58:52 #
vinnya
Loc: connecticut
the wright patterson afb museum just lost out on the shuttle, they have mercury, gemini, and apollo spacecraft and various other nasa artifacts and they are getting the space shuttle crew compartment trainer. the museum is not just for the usaf. they have various aircraft from around the world and different branches of the service. there just wasnt enough shuttles to go everywhere and places had to lose out on getting one
Apr 18, 2012 16:04:46 #
vinnya
Loc: connecticut
and being that ksc is getting a shuttle they may end up sending the mock up explorer from ksc to wpfb museum
Apr 19, 2012 05:51:33 #
Thanks very much for the comments and the welcome to UHH!Looks like like a wonderful group to be with.
Apr 19, 2012 09:26:26 #
Apr 19, 2012 11:23:04 #
I have a pic of the Discovery from when I was at the launch of STS-102 in March, 2001. My mom took the pic with her Avantix (Advantix?) panorama camera that she can't buy film for anymore, while I took video with my dad's camera. He was listening to the broadcast on a radio. It was an incredible sight and sound experience. May I post here? (I posted it on another thread earlier ("Old scanned photos")
Apr 19, 2012 12:58:12 #
Welcome to UHH. Thanks for sharing the photo with us. It's nice to be able to be near the flight path so you can share with the ones of us that can't be there. Thank you.
Apr 21, 2012 07:56:45 #
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