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OFF-CAMERA VOICE: ...747 now, over the landing lights at the end of the runway, preparing touchdown.

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GEORGE DILLER: Discovery was NASA's third space shuttle orbiter to join the fleet,

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arriving for the first time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November of 1983.

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OFF-CAMERA VOICE...and touchdown. Discovery, the third orbiter in the space shuttle fleet, has arrived at Kennedy Space Center.

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DILLER: The choice of the name "Discovery" carried on a tradition drawn from historic, Earth-exploring ships of the past.

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Destined for exploring the heavens instead of the seas, NASA's Discovery made its maiden voyage on Aug. 30, 1984.

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OFF-CAMERA VOICE: ...six. We have main engines start. Three. Two. One. We have SRB ignition and we have liftoff, liftoff of mission 41-D,

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the first flight of the orbiter Discovery, and the shuttle has cleared the tower.

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DILLER: Since that inaugural flight, Discovery has completed more than 30 successful missions, surpassing all other orbiters in NASA's fleet.

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In April of 1990, Discovery had the distinction of carrying the Hubble Space Telescope into space.

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VOICE 1: I tell you what, we'll spend just a few more minutes then getting some pictures here.

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VOICE 2: Yes, sir. Do just that.

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DILLER: Just like all the orbiters, Discovery has undergone some major modifications over the years.

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The most recent began in 2002, and was the first major modification performed at the Kennedy Space Center.

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The modifications included new changes to make it safer for flight.

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Discovery has the distinction of being chosen as the return-to-flight orbiter twice -- first for STS-26 in 1988, and again in 2005 for STS-114.

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OFF-CAMERA VOICE: ...Six. Five. Three engines up and burning. Three. Two. One and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery,

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beginning America's new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.

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DILLER: During its many successful trips into space, Discovery has carried satellites aloft,

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ferried modules and crews to the International Space Station, and provided the setting for countless science experiments.

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As the shuttle program draws to a close, Discovery is currently manifested to fly until 2009,

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delivering components as it helps in completing the International Space Station.

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