#Space shuttle endeavour fun facts full

Following a months-long decommissioning process, Discovery will eventually be placed on public display at the SmithsonianNational Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C. The orbiter landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the final time on March 9. 'Just something that our country should be very, very proud of.'ĭiscovery was the first of NASA's space shuttles to be retired. 'I think the legacy that this shuttle has made for herself is just nothing short than cause for celebration,' STS-133 mission specialist Michael Barratt said during Discovery's final flight.

NASA's fleet leader also performed both return-to-flight missions after the shuttle program was grounded following the losses of Challenger and Columbia. The busy 13-day mission to the International Space Station capped off Discovery's prolific career, which includes the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope in April 1990.ĭiscovery was the first shuttle to visit the International Space Station in May 1999, and would return to the outpost another 12 times. The workhorse orbiter lifted off on its final flight, STS-133, on Feb. Over its career, Discovery also made 5,830 orbits of the Earth.ĭiscovery made its maiden launch on the STS-41D mission in August 1984.

#Space shuttle endeavour fun facts full

After 27 years and 39 flights, Discovery has logged 365 days - a full year - in space, and journeyed 148,221,675 miles (238,539,663 km). ĭiscovery, the veteran of the fleet, is NASA's oldest and most traveled shuttle. Yet, the accidents helped shape the agency's future, and the shuttle program would go on to persevere through the misfortunes.

The shuttle's damaged heat shield failed to protect the vehicle as it reentered Earth's atmosphere, and Columbia broke apart as it flew over Texas.īoth catastrophes brought NASA's space shuttle program to a temporary halt as operations and safety procedures were modified. An investigation later revealed that a piece of foam insulation from Columbia's fuel tank broke off during launch and impacted the orbiter's left wing. 1, 2003, as the orbiter attempted to return home at the end of its 28th flight – the STS-107 mission. NASA lost the shuttle Columbia and its seven-astronaut crew on Feb.

Seven astronauts died in a horrific accident caused by a faulty seal on one of the shuttle's twin solid rocket boosters, which was aggravated by exceptionally cold weather. 28, 1986, at the beginning of the orbiter's 10th flight. Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch on Jan.