OFF-CAMERA VOICE: ...747 now, over the landing lights at the end of the runway, preparing touchdown.
GEORGE DILLER: Discovery was NASA's third space shuttle orbiter to join the fleet,
arriving for the first time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November of 1983.
OFF-CAMERA VOICE...and touchdown. Discovery, the third orbiter in the space shuttle fleet, has arrived at Kennedy Space Center.
DILLER: The choice of the name "Discovery" carried on a tradition drawn from historic, Earth-exploring ships of the past.
Destined for exploring the heavens instead of the seas, NASA's Discovery made its maiden voyage on Aug. 30, 1984.
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,
the first flight of the orbiter Discovery, and the shuttle has cleared the tower.
DILLER: Since that inaugural flight, Discovery has completed more than 30 successful missions, surpassing all other orbiters in NASA's fleet.
In April of 1990, Discovery had the distinction of carrying the Hubble Space Telescope into space.
VOICE 1: I tell you what, we'll spend just a few more minutes then getting some pictures here.
VOICE 2: Yes, sir. Do just that.
DILLER: Just like all the orbiters, Discovery has undergone some major modifications over the years.
The most recent began in 2002, and was the first major modification performed at the Kennedy Space Center.
The modifications included new changes to make it safer for flight.
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.
OFF-CAMERA VOICE: ...Six. Five. Three engines up and burning. Three. Two. One and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery,
beginning America's new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.
DILLER: During its many successful trips into space, Discovery has carried satellites aloft,
ferried modules and crews to the International Space Station, and provided the setting for countless science experiments.
As the shuttle program draws to a close, Discovery is currently manifested to fly until 2009,
delivering components as it helps in completing the International Space Station.