THE HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT BLOG: From the Space Shuttle to Beyond

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center / Axis Communications

Discovery Update... Even though the orbiter Discovery is officially available for the public to marvel at her beauty inside the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, work continues to be done on putting her in her final museum display configuration. A few days ago, the tail cone that shielded Discovery's Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) during the ferry flight from Florida last week was removed by NASA workers flown in from Kennedy Space Center (KSC). And yesterday, the twin Orbital Maneuvering System thruster nozzles (both duplicates as well) were installed onto the vehicle. All that needs to be done now is close out various vent doors that were open on Discovery since her time at KSC, and lowering her back onto the ground so she can resume her role as a historic 'space artifact' inside the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

Click here to view the shuttle Discovery and other historic spacecraft on Udvar-Hazy Center web cameras.


Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center / Axis Communications