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Space Shuttle Discovery
NASA Space Shuttle orbiter in use from 1984 to 2011

The Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program, notable for completing 39 missions including STS-41-D in 1984 and its final flight STS-133 in 2011. It participated in International Space Station assembly and deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. Covered by nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles, Discovery was the third operational orbiter, following Columbia and Challenger. Now retired, it is displayed at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

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History

The name Discovery was chosen to carry on a tradition based on ships of exploration,6 primarily HMS Discovery,7 one of the ships commanded by Captain James Cook during his third and final major voyage from 1776 to 1779, and Henry Hudson's Discovery,8 which was used in 1610–1611 to explore Hudson Bay and search for a Northwest Passage. Other ships bearing the name have included HMS Discovery9 of the 1875–1876 British Arctic Expedition to the North Pole, and RRS Discovery, which carried the 1901–1904 Discovery Expedition to Antarctica, led by Captain Scott.10

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.11

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.12 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.13

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.14

Construction milestones

DateMilestone15
1979 January 29Contract Award to Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California
1979 August 27Start long lead fabrication of Crew Module
1980 June 20Start fabrication lower fuselage
1980 November 10Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
1980 December 8Start initial system installation aft fuselage
1981 March 2Start fabrication/assembly of payload bay doors
1981 October 26Start initial system installation, crew module, Downey
1982 January 4Start initial system installation upper forward fuselage
1982 March 16Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, California
1982 March 30Elevons on dock, Palmdale
1982 April 30Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
1982 April 30Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 July 16Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1982 August 5Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale
1982 September 3Start of Final Assembly
1982 October 15Body flap on dock, Palmdale
1983 January 11Aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale
1983 February 25Complete final assembly and closeout installation, Palmdale
1983 February 28Start initial subsystems test, power-on, Palmdale
1983 May 13Complete initial subsystems testing
1983 July 26Complete subsystems testing
1983 August 12Completed Final Acceptance
1983 October 16Rollout from Palmdale
1983 November 5Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base
1983 November 9Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
1984 June 2Flight Readiness Firing
1984 August 30First Flight (STS-41-D)

Features and upgrades

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 6,870 lb (3,120 kg) less than Columbia when it was brought into service due to optimalizations determined during the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger.17 Discovery weighs 6 pounds (2.7 kg) heavier than Atlantis and 363 pounds (165 kg) heavier than Endeavour after further weight-saving adjustments were made.18

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.19

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.20

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 747.21

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.22

Decommissioning

Main article: Space Shuttle retirement

Discovery was decommissioned on March 9, 2011.2324 NASA offered Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum for public display and preservation, after a month-long decontamination process,25 as part of the national collection.262728 Discovery replaced Enterprise, which was in the Smithsonian's display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center until 2011.293031 Discovery was transported to Washington Dulles International Airport on April 17, 2012, and was transferred to the Udvar-Hazy 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.3233

Flights

By its last mission, Discovery had flown 149 million mi (240 million km) in 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit over 27 years.34 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.35

Flights listing

#DateDesignationNotesLength of journey
1August 30, 1984STS-41-DFirst 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
2November 8, 1984STS-51-ALaunched two and rescued two communications satellites including LEASAT F1.7 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes, 56 seconds
3January 24, 1985STS-51-CLaunched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite.3 days, 01 hours, 33 minutes, 23 seconds-
4April 12, 1985STS-51-DLaunched 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
5June 17, 1985STS-51-GLaunched two communications satellites, Sultan Salman al-Saud becomes first Saudi Arabian in space.7 days, 01 hours, 38 minutes, 52 seconds
6August 27, 1985STS-51-ILaunched two communications satellites including LEASAT F4. Recovered, repaired, and redeployed LEASAT F3.7 days, 02 hours, 17 minutes, 42 seconds
7September 29, 1988STS-26Return to flight after Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, launched TDRS-3.4 days, 01 hours, 00 minutes, 11 seconds
8March 13, 1989STS-29Launched TDRS-4.4 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 52 seconds
9November 22, 1989STS-33Launched DOD Magnum ELINT satellite.5 days, 00 hours, 06 minutes, 49 seconds
10April 24, 1990STS-31Launch of Hubble Space Telescope (HST).5 days, 01 hours, 16 minutes, 06 seconds
11October 6, 1990STS-41Launch of Ulysses.4 days, 02 hours, 10 minutes, 04 seconds
12April 28, 1991STS-39Launched DOD Air Force Program-675 (AFP-675) satellite.8 days, 07 hours, 22 minutes, 23 seconds
13September 12, 1991STS-48Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS).5 days, 08 hours, 27 minutes, 38 seconds
14January 22, 1992STS-42International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1).8 days, 01 hours, 14 minutes, 44 seconds
15December 2, 1992STS-53Department of Defense payload.7 days, 07 hours, 19 minutes, 47 seconds
16April 8, 1993STS-56Atmospheric Laboratory (ATLAS-2).9 days, 06 hours, 08 minutes, 24 seconds
17September 12, 1993STS-51Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS).9 days, 20 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds
18February 3, 1994STS-60First Shuttle-Mir mission; Wake Shield Facility (WSF). First Russian launched in an American spacecraft (Sergei Krikalev).8 days, 07 hours, 09 minutes, 22 seconds
19September 9, 1994STS-64LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE).10 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 57 seconds
20February 3, 1995STS-63Rendezvous with Mir space station. First female shuttle pilot Eileen Collins.368 days, 06 hours, 29 minutes, 36 seconds
21July 13, 1995STS-70Launched TDRS-7.8 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 05 seconds
22February 11, 1997STS-82Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-2).9 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 09 seconds
23August 7, 1997STS-85Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes (CRISTA).11 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes, 07 seconds
24June 2, 1998STS-91Final Shuttle/Mir Docking Mission.9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes, 01 seconds
25October 29, 1998STS-95SPACEHAB, 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
26May 27, 1999STS-96First Space Shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station379 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, 57 seconds
27December 19, 1999STS-103Servicing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) (HSM-3A).7 days, 23 hours, 11 minutes, 34 seconds
28October 11, 2000STS-92International Space Station Assembly Flight (carried and assembled the Z1 truss); 100th Shuttle mission.12 days, 21 hours, 43 minutes, 47 seconds
29March 8, 2001STS-102International Space Station crew rotation flight (Expedition 1 and Expedition 2)12 days, 19 hours, 51 minutes, 57 seconds
30August 10, 2001STS-105International Space Station crew and supplies delivery (Expedition 2 and Expedition 3)11 days 21 hours, 13 minutes, 52 seconds
31July 26, 2005STS-114First "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
32July 4, 2006STS-121Second "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
33December 9, 2006STS-116ISS 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
34October 23, 2007STS-120ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Harmony module).15 days, 02 hours, 23 minutes, 55 seconds
35May 31, 2008STS-124ISS crew rotation and assembly (carries and assembles the Kibō JEM PM module).13 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes, 07 seconds
36March 15, 2009STS-119International 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
37August 28, 2009STS-128International 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 Colbert13 days 20 hours, 54 minutes, 40 seconds
38April 5, 2010STS-131ISS 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.38 Longest mission for this Orbiter.15 days 2 hours, 47 minutes 11 seconds‡
39February 24, 2011STS-133The 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.39 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

Mission insignia for Discovery flights
STS-41-DSTS-51-ASTS-51-CSTS-51-DSTS-51-GSTS-51-ISTS 26STS 29
STS 33STS 31STS 41STS 39STS 48STS 42STS 53STS 56
STS 51STS 60STS 64STS 63STS 70STS 82STS 85STS 91
STS 95STS 96STS 103STS 92STS 102STS 105STS 114STS 121
STS 116STS 120STS 124STS 119STS 128STS 131STS 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)40
  • 01/1991 – 09/1992: John C. "Chris" Fairey41
  • 09/1992 – 10/1996: David A. King42
  • 10/1996 – 05/2000: W. Scott Cilento43
  • 12/2000 – 03/2011: Stephanie S. Stilson44
The launch of STS-41-D, Discovery's first missionSTS-121 launched on July 4, 2006 – the only Shuttle to launch on Independence DaySTS-119 on the night of March 11, 2009Discovery sits atop a modified Boeing 747 as it touches downDiscovery lands after its first flight, STS-41-D
Discovery performing the Rendezvous pitch maneuver prior to docking with the International Space StationThe Space Shuttle Discovery soon after landingModified Boeing 747 carrying DiscoverySTS-124 comes to a close as Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space CenterDiscovery's final touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's runway, concluding the STS-133 mission and Discovery's 27-year career

See also

  • Spaceflight portal
  • Solar System portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Space Shuttle Discovery.

References

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