Space Nerd

Orbiter

Discovery

The orbiter that returned NASA to flight—twice

Space Shuttle Discovery after undocking during STS-133
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (NASA)
First flight
August 30, 1984
Last flight
March 9, 2011
Missions
39

OV-103 flew more missions than any other orbiter. It launched Hubble, visited Mir and the ISS, and carried both “return to flight” crews after Challenger and Columbia—earning a reputation as NASA’s dependable flagship.

Highlights

  • ·Deployed the Hubble Space Telescope (STS-31)
  • ·First shuttle mission to dock with the ISS (STS-96)
  • ·Final landing of the Space Shuttle program (STS-133)

Status

Retired on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Virginia, USA.