Space Shuttle Discovery

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Template:Short description

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox individual space vehicle

File:Space Shuttle Discovery at Udvar-Hazy Center.jpg
Space Shuttle Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
File:Discovery rollout ceremony.jpg
Discovery rollout ceremony in October 1983
File:Space Shuttle Discovery and Carrier 747 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.png
Discovery and SCA 905 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, November 6, 1983

Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter. The spaceplane was one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built.[1] Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft Template:As of.[2] The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.[3]

Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger.[4] After the Challenger and Columbia accidents, Discovery became the oldest surviving orbiter. It embarked on its final mission, STS-133, on February 24, 2011, and touched down for the last time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9,[5] having spent a cumulative total of nearly a full year in space. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions, and also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit among other satellites.

Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis. The shuttle is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

History

The name Discovery was chosen to carry on a tradition based on ships of exploration,[1] primarily Template:HMS,[6] one of the ships commanded by Captain James Cook during his third and final major voyage from 1776 to 1779, and Henry Hudson's Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".,[1] which was used in 1610–1611 to explore Hudson Bay and search for a Northwest Passage. Other ships bearing the name have included Template:HMS[7] of the 1875–1876 British Arctic Expedition to the North Pole, and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., which carried the 1901–1904 Discovery Expedition to Antarctica, led by Captain Scott.[8]

Space Shuttle Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted the second and third Hubble service missions. It also launched the Ulysses probe and three TDRS satellites. Twice Discovery was chosen as the "Return To Flight" Orbiter, first in 1988 after the loss of Challenger in 1986, and then again for the twin "Return To Flight" missions in July 2005 and July 2006 after the Columbia disaster in 2003. Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who was 77 at the time, flew with Discovery on STS-95 in 1998, making him the oldest person to go into space at that time in history.[9]

Had plans to launch United States Department of Defense payloads from Vandenberg Air Force Base gone ahead, Discovery would have become the dedicated US Air Force shuttle.[10] Its first West Coast mission, STS-62-A, was scheduled for 1986, but canceled in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster.

On May 27, 1999, Discovery was launched on STS-96, the first shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station.[11]

Discovery was retired after completing its final mission, STS-133 on March 9, 2011. The spacecraft is now on display in Virginia at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an annex of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.[12]

In 2025, the Trump One Big Beautiful Bill had a rider from Texas federal lawmakers stating that a Shuttle was to be moved to Texas. The only federally owned shuttle remaining, Discovery, would be the shuttle that would be dismantled and moved, at a cost of over $300 million. It would likely be moved to Houston, but cannot leave the Smithsonian and transported to Texas without being taken apart.[13][14][15]

Construction milestones

Date Milestone[8]
1979 January 29 Contract Award to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California
1979 August 27 Start long lead fabrication of Crew Module
1980 June 20 Start fabrication lower fuselage
1980 November 10 Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
1980 December 8 Start initial system installation aft fuselage
1981 March 2 Start fabrication/assembly of payload bay doors
1981 October 26 Start initial system installation, crew module, Downey
1982 January 4 Start initial system installation upper forward fuselage
1982 March 16 Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, California
1982 March 30 Elevons on dock, Palmdale
1982 April 30 Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
1982 April 30 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 July 16 Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 August 5 Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale
1982 September 3 Start of Final Assembly
1982 October 15 Body flap on dock, Palmdale
1983 January 11 Aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1983 February 25 Complete final assembly and closeout installation, Palmdale
1983 February 28 Start initial subsystems test, power-on, Palmdale
1983 May 13 Complete initial subsystems testing
1983 July 26 Complete subsystems testing
1983 August 12 Completed Final Acceptance
1983 October 16 Rollout from Palmdale
1983 November 5 Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base
1983 November 9 Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
1984 June 2 Flight Readiness Firing
1984 August 30 First Flight (STS-41-D)

Features and upgrades

File:STS-41-D Crew Enjoying Space - GPN-2004-00024.jpg
On the maiden voyage of Discovery: Judith Resnik, Henry Hartsfield, Michael L. Coats, Steven A. Hawley, Charles D. Walker, and Richard M. Mullane
File:SRBsepfromDiscovery07042006.png
Discovery after booster separation on STS-121
Discovery is approaching the International Space Station during STS-121. The payload in the shuttle's cargo compartment would be attached to the ISS later in the mission. The spaceship's unique 'teardrop' feature, consisting of several black tiles near the cockpit, is clearly visible.
Discovery approaching the ISS on STS-121, its 'teardrop' feature clearly visible
File:Deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope (28248653761).jpg
Discovery sends the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit on April 25, 1990

During its construction, Discovery was fitted with several black tiles near the middle starboard window where there should have been white tiles. It is unknown if this was the result of a harmless manufacturing mishap or done intentionally to give a distinctive look to the shuttle. This feature has been called 'teardrop' and allowed Discovery to be told apart from the rest of the fleet without looking at its name, although often unnoticed by the uninitiated.[16]

The spacecraft weighed roughly Template:Cvt less than Columbia when it was brought into service due to optimalizations determined during the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger.[9] Discovery weighs Template:Convert heavier than Atlantis and Template:Convert heavier than Endeavour after further weight-saving adjustments were made.[17]

Part of the Discovery weight optimizations included the greater use of quilted AFRSI blankets rather than the white LRSI tiles on the fuselage, and the use of graphite epoxy instead of aluminum for the payload bay doors and some of the wing spars and beams.[18]

Upon its delivery to the Kennedy Space Center in 1983, Discovery was modified alongside Challenger to accommodate the liquid-fueled Centaur-G booster, which had been planned for use beginning in 1986 but was cancelled in the wake of the Challenger disaster.[19]

Beginning in late 1995, the orbiter underwent a nine-month Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) in Palmdale, California. This included outfitting the vehicle with a fifth set of cryogenic tanks and an external airlock to support missions to the International Space Station. As with all the orbiters, it could be attached to the top of specialized aircraft and did so in June 1996 when it returned to the Kennedy Space Center, and later in April 2012 when sent to the Udvar-Hazy Center, riding piggy-back on a modified Boeing 747.[9]

After STS-105, Discovery became the first of the orbiter fleet to undergo Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period at the Kennedy Space Center. Work began in September 2002 to prepare the vehicle for Return to Flight. The work included scheduled upgrades and additional safety modifications.[9]

Decommissioning

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Discovery was decommissioned on March 9, 2011.[20][21] NASA offered Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum for public display and preservation, after a month-long decontamination process,[22] as part of the national collection.[23][24][25] Discovery replaced Enterprise, which was in the Smithsonian's display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center until 2011.[26][27][28] Discovery was transported to Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17, 2012, and was transferred to the Udvar-Hazy Center on April 19 where a welcome ceremony was held. Afterwards, at around 5:30 pm, Discovery was rolled to its "final wheels stop" in the Udvar-Hazy Center.[29][30]

Texas senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz added a provision to the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act to spend $85 million to relocate a space vehicle that has flown astronauts into space, presumably Discovery because of the sponsors of the provision and previous legislation attempts, from the Udvar-Hazy Center to the Space Center Houston Museum in Texas.[31][32] While the Smithsonian estimated that the total cost of the transfer would be approximately $325 million, they also countered that ownership of the shuttle had been transferred to the museum and was no longer federal property, and that Congress did not have the ability to force a transfer.[33][34] Template:Multiple image

Flights

File:STS-48 UARS deployment.jpg
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), one of the many satellites deployed from Discovery (photo from STS-48)

By its last mission, Discovery had flown Template:Convert in 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit over 27 years.[35] Discovery flew more flights than any other Orbiter Shuttle, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew both "return to flight" missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters: STS-26 in 1988, STS-114 in 2005, and STS-121 in 2006. Discovery flew the ante-penultimate mission of the Space Shuttle program, STS-133, having launched on February 24, 2011. Endeavour flew STS-134 and Atlantis performed STS-135, NASA's last Space Shuttle mission. On February 24, 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39-A to begin its final orbital flight.[36]

Flights listing

Template:Sticky header

# Date Designation Notes Length of journey
1 Template:Dts STS-41-D First Discovery mission: Judith Resnik became second American woman in Space. Three communications satellites were put into orbit, including LEASAT F2. 6 days, 00 hours,
56 minutes, 04 seconds
2 Template:Dts STS-51-A Launched two and rescued two communications satellites including LEASAT F1. 7 days, 23 hours,
44 minutes, 56 seconds
3 Template:Dts STS-51-C Launched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite. 3 days, 01 hours,
33 minutes, 23 seconds-
4 Template:Dts STS-51-D Launched two communications satellites including LEASAT F3. Carried first incumbent United States member of Congress into space, Senator Jake Garn (R–Utah) 6 days, 23 hours,
55 minutes, 23 seconds
5 Template:Dts STS-51-G Launched two communications satellites, Sultan Salman al-Saud becomes first Saudi Arabian in space. 7 days, 01 hours,
38 minutes, 52 seconds
6 Template:Dts STS-51-I Launched two communications satellites including LEASAT F4. Recovered, repaired, and redeployed LEASAT F3. 7 days, 02 hours,
17 minutes, 42 seconds
7 Template:Dts STS-26 Return to flight after Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, launched TDRS-3. 4 days, 01 hours,
00 minutes, 11 seconds
8 Template:Dts STS-29 Launched TDRS-4. 4 days, 23 hours,
38 minutes, 52 seconds
9 Template:Dts STS-33 Launched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite. 5 days, 00 hours,
06 minutes, 49 seconds
10 Template:Dts STS-31 Launch of Hubble Space Telescope (HST). 5 days, 01 hours,
16 minutes, 06 seconds
11 Template:Dts STS-41 Launch of Ulysses. 4 days, 02 hours,
10 minutes, 04 seconds
12 Template:Dts STS-39 Launched DOD Air Force Program-675 (AFP-675) satellite. 8 days, 07 hours,
22 minutes, 23 seconds
13 Template:Dts STS-48 Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). 5 days, 08 hours,
27 minutes, 38 seconds
14 Template:Dts STS-42 International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1). 8 days, 01 hours,
14 minutes, 44 seconds
15 Template:Dts STS-53 Department of Defense payload. 7 days, 07 hours,
19 minutes, 47 seconds
16 Template:Dts STS-56 Atmospheric Laboratory (ATLAS-2). 9 days, 06 hours,
08 minutes, 24 seconds
17 Template:Dts STS-51 Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS). 9 days, 20 hours,
11 minutes, 11 seconds
18 Template:Dts STS-60 First Shuttle-Mir mission; Wake Shield Facility (WSF). First Russian launched in an American spacecraft (Sergei Krikalev). 8 days, 07 hours,
09 minutes, 22 seconds
19 Template:Dts STS-64 LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE). 10 days, 22 hours,
49 minutes, 57 seconds
20 Template:Dts STS-63 Rendezvous with Mir space station. First female shuttle pilot Eileen Collins.[17] 8 days, 06 hours,
29 minutes, 36 seconds
21 Template:Dts STS-70 Launched TDRS-7. 8 days, 22 hours,
20 minutes, 05 seconds
22 Template:Dts STS-82 Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-2). 9 days, 23 hours,
38 minutes, 09 seconds
23 Template:Dts STS-85 Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes (CRISTA). 11 days, 20 hours,
28 minutes, 07 seconds
24 Template:Dts STS-91 Final Shuttle/Mir Docking Mission. 9 days, 19 hours,
55 minutes, 01 seconds
25 Template:Dts STS-95 SPACEHAB, second flight of John Glenn, who was 77 years of age at that time, the oldest man in space and third incumbent member of Congress to enter space. Pedro Duque became the first Spaniard in space. 8 days, 21 hours,
44 minutes, 56 seconds
26 Template:Dts STS-96 First Space Shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station[17] 9 days, 19 hours,
13 minutes, 57 seconds
27 Template:Dts STS-103 Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-3A). 7 days, 23 hours,
11 minutes, 34 seconds
28 Template:Dts STS-92 International Space Station Assembly Flight (carried and assembled the Z1 truss); 100th Shuttle mission. 12 days, 21 hours,
43 minutes, 47 seconds
29 Template:Dts STS-102 International Space Station crew rotation flight (Expedition 1 and Expedition 2) 12 days, 19 hours,
51 minutes, 57 seconds
30 Template:Dts STS-105 International Space Station crew and supplies delivery (Expedition 2 and Expedition 3) 11 days 21 hours,
13 minutes, 52 seconds
31 Template:Dts STS-114 First "Return To Flight" mission since Space Shuttle Columbia disaster; International Space Station (ISS) supplies delivery, new safety procedures testing and evaluation, Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello. 13 days, 21 hours,
33 minutes, 00 seconds
32 Template:Dts STS-121 Second "Return To Flight" mission since the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, owing to concerns surrounding foam debris from the external tank during STS-114; International Space Station (ISS) supplies delivery, test new safety and repair techniques. 12 days, 18 hours,
37 minutes, 54 seconds
33 Template:Dts STS-116 ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the P5 truss segment); Last flight to launch on pad 39-B;
First night launch since Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. 		12 days, 20 hours,
44 minutes, 16 seconds
34 Template:Dts STS-120 ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Harmony module). 15 days, 02 hours,
23 minutes, 55 seconds
35 Template:Dts STS-124 ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Kibō JEM PM module). 13 days, 18 hours,
13 minutes, 07 seconds
36 Template:Dts STS-119 International Space Station crew rotation and assembly of a fourth
starboard truss segment (ITS S6) and a fourth set of solar arrays and batteries. Also replaced a failed unit for a system that converts urine to drinking water. 		12 days, 19 hours,
29 minutes, 33 seconds
37 Template:Dts STS-128 International Space Station crew rotation and ISS resupply using the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Also carried the C.O.L.B.E.R.T treadmill named after Stephen Colbert 13 days 20 hours, 54 minutes, 40 seconds
38 Template:Dts STS-131 ISS resupply using the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. The mission also marked the first time that four women were in space and the first time that two Japanese astronauts were together on a space station.[37] Longest mission for this Orbiter. 15 days 2 hours, 47 minutes 11 seconds‡
39 Template:Dts STS-133 The mission launched at 4:53 pm EST on February 24, was carrying the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) Leonardo, the ELC-4 and Robonaut 2 to the ISS.[38] Final flight of Discovery. 12 days 19 hours,
4 minutes, 50 seconds

‡ Longest shuttle mission for Discovery
– shortest shuttle mission for Discovery

Mission and tribute insignias

File:Space Shuttle Discovery Tribute.jpg
NASA Orbiter Tribute for Space Shuttle Discovery
Mission insignia for Discovery flights
File:Sts-41-d-patch.png
File:Sts-51-a-patch.png
File:Sts-51-c-patch.png
File:Sts-51-d-patch.png
File:Sts-51-g-patch.png
File:Sts-51-i-patch.png
File:Sts-26-patch.png
File:Sts-29-patch.png
STS-41-D STS-51-A STS-51-C STS-51-D STS-51-G STS-51-I STS-26 STS-29
File:Sts-33-patch.png
File:Sts31 flight insignia.png
File:Sts-41-patch.png
File:STS-39 patch.svg
File:Sts-48-patch.png
File:Sts-42-patch.png
File:STS-53 patch.svg
File:Sts-56-patch.png
STS-33 STS-31 STS-41 STS-39 STS-48 STS-42 STS-53 STS-56
File:STS-51 patch.svg
File:Sts-60-patch.png
File:Sts-64-patch.png
File:Sts-63-patch.png
File:Sts-70-patch.png
File:Sts-82-patch.png
File:Sts-85-patch.png
File:Sts-91-patch.svg
STS-51 STS-60 STS-64 STS-63 STS-70 STS-82 STS-85 STS-91
File:STS-95 Patch.svg
File:Sts-96-patch.svg
File:STS-103 Patch.svg
File:Sts-92-patch.svg
File:STS-102 Patch.svg
File:Sts-105-patch.svg
File:STS-114 patch.svg
File:STS-121 patch.svg
STS-95 STS-96 STS-103 STS-92 STS-102 STS-105 STS-114 STS-121
File:STS-116 emblem.svg
File:Sts-120-patch.svg
File:STS-124 patch.svg
File:STS-119 Patch.svg
File:STS-128 Patch.svg
File:STS-131 patch.svg
File:STS-133 patch.svg
STS-116 STS-120 STS-124 STS-119 STS-128 STS-131 STS-133

Flow directors

The Flow Director was responsible for the overall preparation of the shuttle for launch and processing it after landing, and remained permanently assigned to head the spacecraft's ground crew while the astronaut flight crews changed for every mission. Each shuttle's Flow Director was supported by a Vehicle Manager for the same spacecraft. Space Shuttle Discovery's Flow Directors were:

  • Until 01/1991: John J. "Tip" Talone Jr. (afterwards Flow Director for Endeavour)[39]
  • 01/1991 – 09/1992: John C. "Chris" Fairey[39]
  • 09/1992 – 10/1996: David A. King[40]
  • 10/1996 – 05/2000: W. Scott Cilento[41]
  • 12/2000 – 03/2011: Stephanie S. Stilson[42]

Gallery

File:STS-41-D launch August 30, 1984.jpg File:07042007 SpaceShuttle Discovery.jpg File:Space Shuttle Discovery under a full moon, 03-11-09.jpg File:Discovery sits atop a Boeing 747 as it touched down.jpg File:Space Shuttle Discovery lands for the first time, completing STS-41-D.jpg
The launch of STS-41-D, Discovery's first mission STS-121 launched on July 4, 2006 – the only Shuttle to launch on Independence Day STS-119 on the night of March 11, 2009 Discovery sits atop a modified Boeing 747 as it touches down at the Kennedy Space Center following STS-128 Discovery lands after its first flight, STS-41-D
File:ISS-11 Discovery heat shield photograph.jpg File:Discovery mission completed q.jpg File:Modified Boeing 747 carrying Discovery.jpg File:Space Shuttle Discovery Landing after STS-124.jpg File:Concluding the STS-133 mission, Space Shuttle Discovery touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility - cropped.jpg
Discovery performing the Rendezvous pitch maneuver during STS-114 prior to docking with the International Space Station The Space Shuttle Discovery soon after landing at the end of STS-114 Modified Boeing 747 carrying Discovery after STS-128 STS-124 comes to a close as Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space Center DiscoveryTemplate:'s final touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's runway, concluding the STS-133 mission and DiscoveryTemplate:'s 27-year career

See also

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References

Template:Include-NASA Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project Template:Space Shuttle Mission Link

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Template:Space Shuttle Template:Navbox with columns Template:NASA space program Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  37. ↑ Four Women, Two Japanese in Space at Same Time Template:Webarchive Asian American Press, April 8, 2010
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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