Shuttle Discovery Prepares for Final Ride
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

The countdown for space shuttle Discovery's final journey from Kennedy Space Center started Tuesday afternoon with the arrival of the plane that will transport the shuttle to its new home near Washington D.C. The oldest orbiter in the fleet will fly piggy back on a NASA jumbo jet next week.

Discovery first blasted into orbit in 1984. It flew 39 missions to space and travelled more than 148 million miles.

On Saturday the veteran of the shuttle program will be rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly building and lifted onto the back of NASA’s carrier aircraft, a modified 747.

In what’s sure to be an emotional farewell for the staff at Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle will leave at dawn on Tuesday next week.

Discovery’s set for permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum building located near Dulles International Airport.