Orbiter, Space Shuttle, OV-103, Discovery

National Air and Space Museum

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Object Details

Manufacturer
Rockwell International Corporation
Summary
Discovery was the third Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle to fly in space. It entered service in 1984 and retired from spaceflight as the oldest and most accomplished orbiter, the champion of the shuttle fleet. Discovery flew on 39 Earth-orbital missions, spent a total of 365 days in space, and traveled almost 240 million kilometers (150 million miles)--more than the other orbiters. It shuttled 184 men and women into space and back, many of whom flew more than once, for a record-setting total crew count of 251.
Because Discovery flew every kind of mission the Space Shuttle was meant to fly, it embodies well the 30-year history of U.S. human spaceflight from 1981 to 2011. Named for renowned sailing ships of exploration, Discovery is preserved as intact as possible as it last flew in 2011 on the 133rd Space Shuttle mission.
NASA transferred Discovery to the Smithsonian in April 2012 after a delivery flight over the nation's capital.
Alternate Name
Space Shuttle Discovery
Key Accomplishment(s)
Champion of the Shuttle Fleet
Brief Description
Discovery was the third Space Shuttle orbiter to fly in space. From 1984 to 2012, Discovery flew 39 Earth-orbital missions, spent a total of 365 days in space, and traveled almost 240 million km (150 million mi) —more than the other orbiters.
Credit Line
Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A20120325000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
SPACECRAFT-Manned
Materials
Airframe: aluminum alloys, titanium
Surface: silica tiles, reinforced carbon carbon RCC nose cap and wing leading edges
Interior: many materials (aluminum, fabric, beta cloth, velcro, etc.)
Dimensions
Overall: 24.314m x 17.768m x 38.03m, 73176.5kg (78 ft. x 57 ft. x 122 ft., 161325lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Hangar
James S. McDonnell Space Hangar
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A20120325000
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv90f447f4d-55c5-4511-90c3-86bd30bfdbfc
Support generously provided by Meredith Siegfried Madden and Dr. Peter Madden.
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
Support generously provided by Meredith Siegfried Madden and Dr. Peter Madden.
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  • Give attribution to the Smithsonian.
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