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Discovery Ends Final Ride

Space shuttle soars above DC, heads for Smithsonian

By the Associated Press

Posted Apr 17, 2012 6:39 AM CDT | Updated Apr 17, 2012 11:00 AM CDT

(AP) – Space shuttle Discovery landed today at Washington Dulles International Airport, where its wheels will stop for the last time at the Smithsonian. The world's most traveled spaceship landed after taking off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and soaring around the Washington Monument and White House in a salute to the nation's capital. Discovery rode on the back of a 747 jet and took a spin around Washington at an easy-to-spot 1,500 feet before it was grounded for good.

Discovery is the first of the three retired space shuttles to head to a museum. It will go on display at Dulles in Virginia, taking the place of the shuttle prototype Enterprise. The Enterprise will go to New York City. Endeavour will head to Los Angeles this fall. Atlantis will remain at Kennedy.

The space shuttle Discovery, sitting atop a 747 carrier aircraft, sits on the tarmac at Dulles.
The space shuttle Discovery, sitting atop a 747 carrier aircraft, sits on the tarmac at Dulles.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the White House.
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the White House.   (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Discovery, aboard a specially modified NASA Boeing 747, flies past the Washington Monument.
Discovery, aboard a specially modified NASA Boeing 747, flies past the Washington Monument.   (Getty Images)
Discovery, aboard a specially modified NASA Boeing 747, flies over the US Capitol.
Discovery, aboard a specially modified NASA Boeing 747, flies over the US Capitol.   (Getty Images)
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the Lincoln Memorial.
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the Lincoln Memorial.   (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Discovery, attached to the back of a Boeing 747 airplane, passes over the Washington Monument.
Discovery, attached to the back of a Boeing 747 airplane, passes over the Washington Monument.   (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the White House.
Discovery, mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, flies over the White House.   (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Astronaut Steve Lindsey, the last to fly Discovery, speaks today as it sits atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Astronaut Steve Lindsey, the last to fly Discovery, speaks today as it sits atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (Getty Images)
Discovery waits at the Mate-Demate structure to be to be mounted atop a 747, at the Kennedy Space Center, Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Discovery waits at the Mate-Demate structure to be to be mounted atop a 747, at the Kennedy Space Center, Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hitching a ride on top a special NASA Boeing 747 jet, the space shuttle Discovery soars past Capitol Hill.
Hitching a ride on top a special NASA Boeing 747 jet, the space shuttle Discovery soars past Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Alvin Drew, Nicole Stott, Mike Barratt, Steve Bowen, Eric Boe, and Steve Lindsey, the last crew of Discovery, which sits ready to transport to Washington DC, on April 16, 2012.
Alvin Drew, Nicole Stott, Mike Barratt, Steve Bowen, Eric Boe, and Steve Lindsey, the last crew of Discovery, which sits ready to transport to Washington DC, on April 16, 2012.   (Getty Images)
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The space shuttle Discovery, sitting atop a 747 carrier aircraft, lands at Dulles International Airport.
The space shuttle Discovery, sitting atop a 747 carrier aircraft, lands at Dulles International Airport.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
Mad
Apr 17, 2012 3:42 PM CDT
End of an era - an era when America still dominated in space.
myflap.blow
Apr 17, 2012 3:24 PM CDT
sure it's sad, I even feel a bit nauseous, but it's even sadder that we're making a big hoo-haw over a program ending and not unveiling the next shiny newest thing in world-leading space travel technology! Makes my gut pit sour! Either that, or this image still reminds me of Oprahs sex life...
Dale
Apr 17, 2012 7:43 AM CDT
It took a visionary like Kennedy, to inspire America to create a program like NASA, and the HOPE & CHANGE of the Obama, administration to kill it.

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US • Science

 
NASA • space shuttle • shuttle fleet • Discovery space shuttle • museum exhibit

 
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