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Discovery: A Look Back

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Discovery: A Look Back

As Discovery makes it journey to the Smithsonian, we’re taking a look back at NASA’s oldest shuttle.

Discovery Shuttle
Discovery flies over NASA’s vehicle assembly building in Cape Canaveral during its final flight.
Discovery Shuttle
Spectators flocked to the beaches along the Space Coast to catch one final look at NASA’s oldest shuttle.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery awaits its first launch in 1984.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery takes off for its first mission, STS 41-D, in which it launched three commercial satellites into space.
Discovery Shuttle
Spectators watch Discovery lift off for the first of what would eventually tally 39 missions.
Discovery Shuttle
The Hubble space telescope is seen in the payload bay in 1990 during Discovery’s deployment it into space.
Discovery Shuttle
NASA readies Discovery for a “return to flight” launch after the Columbia disaster.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery lifts off for a trip to the International Space Station on July 4, 2006.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery is rolled out for a trip to the Vehicle Assembly Building in anticipation of its December 2006 launch to the International Space Station.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery approaches the International Space Station in October 2007.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery sits on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in the early morning hours of March 11, 2009.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery lifts off during a night launch for its 36th flight, in which it ventured to the International Space Station.
Discovery Shuttle
Discovery lands at Edwards Air Force Base in 2009 for the last shuttle landing at the California site.
Discovery Shuttle
A time-lapse photo captures Discovery’s path as it enters into orbit in April 2010.
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