Space Shuttle Discovery Makes Final Journey

The Space Shuttle Discovery has made its final voyage, but sadly not in to space. Travelling atop a specialised jumbo jet, the shuttle was flown from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to its permanent home at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, but not before making a low level flight around the US capital first. After circling the Washington Monument four times and passing the National Mall over Capitol Hill, the shuttle landed at Dulles Airport, a few miles outside Washington DC. It was then towed to the Smithsonian where it will displayed to the public in the coming months. 

Discovery, which completed 39 orbital missions, is the first of the three retired space shuttles to head to a museum. It takes the place of the shuttle prototype Enterprise at the Smithsonian, which will be moved to New York City. Endeavour will head to Los Angeles later in the year while Atlantis will remain at Kennedy.