April 12, 2011
Discovery Space Shuttle Coming to the Smithsonian
Space shuttle Discovery roaring off the launchpad. Photo courtesy of NASA.
The space shuttle that has flown more missions than any other is coming to the Smithsonian.
Announced just moments ago, Discovery will be coming to the National Air and Space Museum to be preserved in the collections with the 1903 Wright Flyer, Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed 5B Vega and the Spirit of St. Louis. Before Discovery can kick off its shoes and relax in space shuttle retirement, scientists must first inspect the aircraft and gather valuable information from its many trips into space. It may take months before Discovery is ready to go from highly dependable space shuttle to museum exhibit.
“An acquisition of this importance happens rarely in the life of a museum,” says Air and Space curator Dr. Valerie Neal in an email interview. “It is an honor and privilege to welcome Discovery into the national collection, where it will be displayed, preserved, and cared for forever.”
Discovery accomplished numerous milestones during its 27-year career and 365 total days in space. It was flown by the first African-American commander, Frederick Gregory in 1989, as well as piloted by the first female spacecraft pilot, Eileen Collins in 1995. The space shuttle also served as a return-to-flight vehicle after the Challenger (1988) and Columbia (2005) tragedies.
The design of the Discovery was unique for its time and made these achievements in space travel possible.
“The shuttle orbiters were the first vehicles to launch into space like a rocket, return on wings and wheels to land like an aircraft, and fly over and over again,” says Dr. Neal. “They made an entirely new style of spaceflight possible and greatly expanded the scope of human activity in space.”
From its design, history and crowning achievements, Discovery will make a great addition to the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. Be sure to check back with Around the Mall for future updates on when you will be able to see Discovery in person. In the meantime, check out the video below of Dr. Neal as she highlights Enterprise and its impact on manned space flights.
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Our family os so excited about this! Will there be a place to camp out and watch Discovery arrive? We live just minutes away from the Udvar-Hazy center, and it is one of our favorite places to visit!
No better place for this ultimate donation!
Will there be any ceremonies or other activities that a group can attend when the shuttle arrives?
Has anyone learned how to keep up with the schedule for this? We’d love to watch them move Discovery in, or Enterprise out, etc.
I hear that Discovery is coming in April 2012. Is their an official site to keep track of this? I want to be at Dulles to see it land.
Is “there” an official site to keep track of this?
At present, we have no set date for the arrival of Discovery, although NASA has indicated that delivery will probably occur in 2012. The Museum has every hope that members of the public can participate in welcome activities. Once the timeframe is established, the Museum will announce a schedule of activities. The best ways to stay informed of events surrounding the arrival of Discovery is to check the museum’s website & Facebook pages, follow the @airandspace twitter feed, or subscribe to our e-newsletter, What’s Up, at the following link: http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/enewsletter/