Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter. The spaceplane was one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft as of December 2024. The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.

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1984  Wikimedia, Wikidata
Space Shuttle orbiter, exhibit, 

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Location: 38.9114, -77.4452, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

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1984-08-30T00:00:00Z

1984-08-30T00:00:00Z

1984 Space Shuttle Discovery

1979-01-29T00:00:00Z

1979-01-29T00:00:00Z

contract awarding

2012-04-19T00:00:00Z

2012-04-19T00:00:00Z

permanent exhibition

1983-11-09T00:00:00Z

1983-11-09T00:00:00Z

delivery

1979-08-27T00:00:00Z

1979-08-27T00:00:00Z

construction

1984-08-30T00:00:00Z

1984-08-30T00:00:00Z

maiden flight

1983-10-16T00:00:00Z

1983-10-16T00:00:00Z

rollout

2011-02-24T00:00:00Z

2011-02-24T00:00:00Z

last flight

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Frameless

Wing of space shuttle Discovery on SS Transcolumbia c1982

US Space Shuttle at the National Air and Space Museum

Space Shuttle Discovery Nose (29553281)

Stennis Space Center Day at Jackson, Miss (95-110-16)

Discovery Comes Home DVIDS854692

STS131 Discovery rollover7

STS-41 Pilot Cabana holds 16mm camera on OV-103's middeck

Full moon partially obscured by atmosphere

After a two year break to pay tribute, investigate and fix issues with the vehicle, the Space Shuttle returns to the launch pad.

Space Shuttle Discovery under a full moon, 03-11-09

• Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center - Wikinews article, English, 2006
• Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center - Wikinews article, French, 2006

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
commons	image		Wing of space shuttle Discovery on SS Transcolumbia c1982		Commons
commons	image		US Space Shuttle at the National Air and Space Museum		Commons
commons	image		Space Shuttle Discovery Nose (29553281)		Commons
commons	image		Stennis Space Center Day at Jackson, Miss (95-110-16)		Commons
commons	image		Discovery Comes Home DVIDS854692		Commons
commons	image		STS131 Discovery rollover7		Commons
commons	image		STS-41 Pilot Cabana holds 16mm camera on OV-103's middeck		Commons
commons	image		Full moon partially obscured by atmosphere		Commons
commons	image		After a two year break to pay tribute, investigate and fix issues with the vehicle, the Space Shuttle returns to the launch pad.		Commons
commons	image		Space Shuttle Discovery under a full moon, 03-11-09		Commons