Shuttle Discovery to Leave Kennedy Space Center for the Last Time

[Wendy]

At 7am tomorrow morning the 17th April, the space shuttle Discovery will be flown out of Kennedy Space Center on top of a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The shuttle is being flown to its new home at the National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center.

To celebrate the event Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is hosting special activities:

• Special "Discovery" tour including a drive-by of the Mate/Demate Device at the Shuttle
• Appearances by crews from inaugural and final missions (April 16th).

A limited number of tickets are available for the opportunity to witness the departure of Discovery from the actual Shuttle Landing Facility.

Tickets are $85 plus tax per adult and $ 75 plus tax per child (3-11) and include admission and the transportation ticket to the Shuttle Landing Facility.

Viewing will also be available from the Visitor Complex. Guests will have a great photo opportunity of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and Discovery as they fly over the Rocket Garden.

[Slowhand]

The beginning of an end of an era....so sad.

[Wendy]

The beginning of an end of an era....so sad.

[Britchick]

very sad

[catrancher]

Sad, yes. But at least it's going to a good home.

If you like aircraft at all and ever find yourself in the Washington DC area, you owe it to yourself to take a short trip out to Udvar-Hazy! Between that and the NASM on the Mall, there's enough there to keep an airplane buff enthralled for days.

Tom (.. be sure to try to get into the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar!)

[uscwest]

This is one of those days that I REALLY REALLY wish that we were back in our old office building which was right in the flight path for Dulles. But we haven't been in that building for 11 years.

[catrancher]

flight path for Dulles.

How cool would that be!

Tom (... NASM fan...)

[catrancher]

It's live on NASA TV right now!

Tom (... in case you wanted to see!)

[uscwest]

How cool would that be!

Tom (... NASM fan...)

When we first moved into that building Tom, they were still flying the Concorde. We were only about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway, if that, so they flew over quite low. The Concorde actually used to rattle the windows when it took off in our direction and watching both them and the jumbo jets come in for landings was fantastic. Unfortunately, we moved out of that building shortly after 9/11 and now we are way up in Ft. Meade Maryland, since last May.