Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, goes by the Washington Monument during a flyover of the nation's capital on its trip to retirement Tuesday, April 17. The flight -- the last time Discovery will be aloft -- took it from Florida's Kennedy Space Center to the Washington area, where it will spend retirement as a museum piece at an annex to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, goes by the Washington Monument during a flyover of the nation's capital on its trip to retirement Tuesday, April 17. The flight -- the last time Discovery will be aloft -- took it from Florida's Kennedy Space Center to the Washington area, where it will spend retirement as a museum piece at an annex to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, near Dulles International Airport.
Discovery and its 747 jumbo jet carrier pass over the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, Virginia, on Tuesday. The shuttle will be removed from the modified jet and star as the guest of honor at a four-day celebration punctuated by a ceremony Thursday formally welcoming Discovery to the Smithsonian collection.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Discovery and its 747 jumbo jet carrier pass over the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, Virginia, on Tuesday. The shuttle will be removed from the modified jet and star as the guest of honor at a four-day celebration punctuated by a ceremony Thursday formally welcoming Discovery to the Smithsonian collection.
The 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, carrying Discovery, prepares to land at Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday in Chantilly, Virginia.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
The 747 shuttle carrier aircraft, carrying Discovery, prepares to land at Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday in Chantilly, Virginia.
Discovery flies over the National Mall on Tuesday as it arrives from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The space shuttle Enterprise, which has been on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center since 1985, will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Discovery flies over the National Mall on Tuesday as it arrives from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The space shuttle Enterprise, which has been on display at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center since 1985, will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.
Schoolchildren on a tour watch as Discovery flies over the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Schoolchildren on a tour watch as Discovery flies over the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
Discovery makes a low pass over the Washington, D.C., area before its final landing Tuesday.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Discovery makes a low pass over the Washington, D.C., area before its final landing Tuesday.
An aspiring astronaut poses in the parking lot of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
An aspiring astronaut poses in the parking lot of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
Discovery flies over the National Mall before being retired at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Discovery flies over the National Mall before being retired at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
People gather to watch the arrival of Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
People gather to watch the arrival of Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
iReporter Jon Rosiska took this shot at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
iReporter Jon Rosiska took this shot at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday.
Shuttle Discovery flies past the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Shuttle Discovery flies past the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.
Special guests watch the Discovery's arrival from the observation deck of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Special guests watch the Discovery's arrival from the observation deck of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday in Chantilly.
Shuttle Discovery lands at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Shuttle Discovery lands at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly.
Spectators watch as Discovery passes over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Spectators watch as Discovery passes over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Tuesday.
Alvin Drew, left, Nicole Stott, Mike Barratt, Steve Bowen, Eric Boe and Steve Lindsey of STS-133, Discovery's last crew, pose for a photo at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Monday, April 16.
Space shuttle Discovery flies into retirement —
Alvin Drew, left, Nicole Stott, Mike Barratt, Steve Bowen, Eric Boe and Steve Lindsey of STS-133, Discovery's last crew, pose for a photo at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Monday, April 16.