Science

Space Shuttle ‘Discovery’ Makes Final Reach for the Stars

At 4:53 p.m. EST Thursday, space shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch marked the beginning of Discovery‘s final spaceflight. Discovery, NASA’s oldest orbiter, will ferry hardware and supplies to the International Space Station during its 11-day journey.

Here’s the dazzling view from onlookers on the ground:

First launched in 1984, Discovery has logged nearly 230 million kilometers, more than any other reusable spacecraft. This is the 39th flight for Discovery.

Only two other shuttle flights remain after Discovery‘s mission: Endeavour and Atlantis will both be retired later this year.

Want to follow along with the Discovery mission? Mission specialist Nicole Stott will be Tweeting updates from space.

Comments (60)

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  • pengelke
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 10:56pm

    I remember living just a few miles from pad 39a and b. The power of the launches was awe inspiring. I also had been to two of the Apollo launches as a child. Every single launch choked me up with pride in the great good that humanity and especially Americans could accomplish. So many great advancements that have benefited all humanity have come from the American space program. I weep for our abdication of greatness!

    God speed Discovery. Do not forget to reach out to touch the face of God!

    Report Post » pengelke  
  • TheAmericanRifleman
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 9:34pm

    Watch this video for some encouragement.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h_d6YVA1Kg
    It really helped me in my Space Shuttle withdraws.

    Report Post » TheAmericanRifleman  
  • DashRipRock
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 9:02pm

    Hey blaze wakey wakey this is SPAM

    Report Post »  
  • WHITE LOTUS2x
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 8:55pm

    Well, there goes the last blast off. Now they can concentrate on making those muslims feel good about themselves with that NASA money. It will probably go straight into the green bank.

    Report Post »  
  • random357
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 8:45pm

    I worked at a satelite tracking station in North Carolina. I was working during the Apollo Soyez test project.
    I loved going to work every day. Weather, comm, and scientific satelites. It was a child hood dream to work
    in the space program.

    So now the US buys seats on russian launch veheicals. A big blow to American pride in space.
    I’ll be happy when barack is out of the white house 2012 can not get here fast enough.

    Report Post » random357  
  • obama_binpharteen
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:26pm

    Could be worse, they could unionize NASA.

    Report Post » obama_binpharteen  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:43pm

      Nope .. now it is a Muslim outreach program to study global warming … what a WASTE !!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Workforit
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:21pm

    Do you think they have collective bargaining in space?
    Sorry couldn’t help myself…
    142 million miles on the odometer, amazing. Go discovery Go!

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:12pm

    The president surely must be happy with the news.

    Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:59pm

    Boy, oh, boy — does that bring back memories!

    My husband and I were docked at Titusville Marina, and John Glenn’s yacht docked next to ours. He was there to watch one of the launches in the early 1990s. Glenn’s boat was named Seniram II — “Marines” spelled backwards. I got pictures of him, his crew, and his boat. My husband and I were on our way to spend the winter in Marathon on ours.

    Another launch, which we missed in Titusville, was scheduled in the spring. We had gotten to Daytona Beach but could still see the Apollo’s flight, whatever number it was.

    Report Post » Showtime  
  • MyzPhoenyx
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:57pm

    God bless them and bring them home safely.

    Report Post » MyzPhoenyx  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:57pm

    Cutting the Space Program so we can support more Welfare Queens.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • reckless
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:57pm

    How can Obama apologize to the Martians when all the space shuttles are retired?

    Report Post »  
  • YesNdeedie
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:56pm

    A beautiful post card perfect launch it was.

    Report Post »  
  • staythecourse
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:56pm

    This is part of Obama’s plan to completely destroy America. We are abandoning the space station to the Russians. The only way we will be able to get up there will be to “hitch” a ride. We are no longer an independent country.

    Obama is truly succeeding in making us a third world nation. He has weakened our defenses. This is treason. He has opened our borders. given information regarding our energy grid to the Russians, and now has abandoned the space station.

    Report Post »  
  • Politicus
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:55pm

    I remember the Saturn V. Over 2x times taller than the Space Shuttle.
    http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr511/im/rockets-compared.jpg

    I guess Progressives believe in progressively smaller as to down to nothing.
    Thank you, Kenyan Messiah.

    Report Post » Politicus  
    • isobamamadd
      Posted on February 25, 2011 at 12:49am

      Progressively to one or the other C resents , The Crescent of the Hammer And Cycle or the Crescent of Embrace ,

      Report Post »  
  • Norden
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:54pm

    It’s funny that Obama has the audacity to make reference to “Sputnik moments.” Are you kidding me? Obama, YOU are our Sputnik moment.

    Report Post »  
  • SonOfaCommunist
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:53pm

    Its kind of like a “sputnik moment” if you really think about it. Not sure what that means but maybe the guy in the White House can tell us?

    Report Post » SonOfaCommunist  
  • numbers
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:44pm

    So sad. How far we aspired to go in the glory days.

    Report Post »  
  • Bronco II
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:41pm

    This is the first one I didn’t watch I was really worried with all the problems they were having but I did pray at the moment they took off and pray they have a safe trip there and back home again.

    Report Post » Bronco II  
  • Angryrail
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:40pm

    Godspeed Discovery!!!

    Report Post » Angryrail  
  • firex1204
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:36pm

    Have a great mission,too bad its one of the last for America.

    Report Post »  
  • JMJ I Love You
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:30pm

    AWESOME!!!!!! God Speed and home safely.

    Report Post » JMJ I Love You  
  • PatriotSmith
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:26pm

    Goodbye to exploration…I did always want first dibs on moon property…

    http://www.patriotsmith.com

    Report Post » PatriotSmith  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:21pm

    Thus soon will come to a close one of the greatest era’s of America.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:37pm

      In my life I have seen Apollo 8 to 13 lift off, I have seen 2 space shuttle launches, and I have worked in Space programs for almost 20 years.
      I will miss the shuttle and as Americans, this will be a sad period where we will not have the ability to put a man into space, for at least another 4 years.
      My father would weep if he was still alive, he worked on Gemini and Apollo.
      Thanks Obama, for cancelling the Orion project, (sarcasm) you are right, America is not a special country, not anymore.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:41pm

      Darmok, thanks for sharing your story.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:42pm

      My cousin worked for NASA in the 1960′s in FL then went to Texas later on .. he was very proud (as all should be) working on the space program … it was really cool to a “kid” like me.

      Report Post »  
    • pajamash
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:52pm

      Darmok, I second the thought. And as you and I well know, “Shaka when he walls fell!”

      Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:21pm

    Jack Parsons was a Satanist

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:33pm

      @CnsrvtvJ

      Cool launch indeed, would love to see one of those launches in person; and I remember as a kid when the big plane that the shuttle piggyback‘s on from CA to FL flew over my grandpa’s ranch. That was neat, and the closest I will likely ever get to the shuttle outside of a museum.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:43pm

      I could see the scene deep inside NORAD command:

      “No General, we have confirmation it was just the shuttle taking off and not the white house with all of the hot air being generated there…and yes Senator Pelosi can always hope so…”

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 6:53pm

      did we ever get the explanation of the Missile off the CA coast ?

      tower7femacamp  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:08pm

      @Tower7

      None that I am aware of; though a friend I have who worked on submarines described it this way…

      “There is only one thing from a submarine that flys in this fashion (looking at the video) and they are used for defense of the country against another country on a strategic level.”

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • the_ancient
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:11pm

      @Rob,

      We wills till be the leader in space, only it will be private american companies that will be the leaders, not the government, that is how it should be.

      The Shuttle Program, while Iconic, is outdated and needed to be replaced, now private companies will have the ability to do what the government could not.

      Report Post » the_ancient  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:38pm

      @Snow ..

      I almost jumped in the convertible this morning to drive across the state to see it this afternoon .. then I remembered all the problems they have been having and didn’t want to get over there just to have it cancelled. I can see the contrail at launch on a very clear day from across the state .. and when they had the night launches you could see it quite well .. from the Gulf of Mexico … south of Sarasota.

      Depending on the landing route … we often get the big double bang as it is landing .. you hear it and then watch the tv .. it is across the state that fast .. and see it land.

      Report Post »  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:43pm

      Uh TOWERSEVEN

      That miossle launch off of CA was me

      my bad

      never play pull my finger after you eat at Taco Bell

       
    • pajamash
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:48pm

      Tower – It’s alright because Obama is a closet muslim.

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 8:43pm

      @pajamash
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 7:48pm
      Tower – It’s alright because Obama is a closet muslim.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Obama is a closet Muslim–who left the door open!

      Showtime  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 8:57pm

      It sucks that are only a few shuttle missions left. It will be sorely missed.

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – political humor

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on February 24, 2011 at 11:56pm

      The potus has handed outerspace to China on a silver plater.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
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