End of an era: Space shuttle Discovery lands safely back on Earth after its 39th and final mission

By GRAHAM SMITH

Right on schedule: Space shuttle Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, shortly before noon local time today


Nasa vessel touched down on schedule at Kennedy Space Center at 11.57EST (16.57GMT)

Discovery capped a successful 13-day spaceflight with a smooth landing in Florida today, ending a 27-year flying career for the world's most-travelled spaceship.

With commander Steven Lindsey at the controls, Discovery touched down at Kennedy Space Center at 11.57EST (16.57 GMT) to wrap a cargo run and construction mission at the International Space Station (ISS).

Nasa's oldest shuttle swooped through a mostly clear sky to land at its home base and end its 39th mission.


Grounded: Nasa's oldest shuttle swooped through a mostly clear sky to land at its home base and end its 39th mission


Kennedy Space Center was packed with shuttle program workers, journalists and even some schoolchildren eager to see history in the making


'To the ship that has led the way time and time again, we say, "Farewell Discovery",' radioed the Mission Control commentator.

'For the final time: wheels stop,' Commander Lindsey called out as the shuttle rolled to a stop.

Florida's spaceport was packed with shuttle program workers, journalists and even some schoolchildren eager to see history in the making.

The six astronauts on board went through their landing checklists with the bittersweet realisation no one would ever ride Discovery again.

They said during their 13-day space station delivery mission that they expected that to hit them hard when the shuttle came to a stop on the runway.


Setting off: Discovery leaves the ISS on Monday to begin its 39th and final voyage home


A close-up view of the International Space Station from Discovery after the two undocked more than 200 miles above Earth's surface on Monday. During two spacewalks astronauts completed a number of maintenance and installation tasks


Discovery accumulated 365 days in orbit over 39 missions. It will now be prepared for display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

During its final mission, the vessel delivered a combination storage room-research lab to the station, as well as an external platform to house large spare parts.

It also carried tons of supplies and science gear, including a prototype humanoid robot built in partnership with General Motors.

Sister ships Endeavour and Atlantis will have their finales in April and June respectively, delivering the $2billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector and a year's worth of supplies to the station, a $100billion project of 16 nations that has been under construction 220 miles above Earth since 1998.


This incredible image gives a detailed ISS, the assembly of which began in 1998. It is currently orbiting about 220 miles above the surface of Earth


The $100billion space station, whose span would cover the length of a football field, has been under construction since 1998 and measures 167ft x 358ft x 66ft


Setting off: Discovery, pictured the northern Atlantic Ocean, left the ISS on Monday


At the controls: Commander Steve Lindsey (right) and astronaut Alvin Drew (left) confer on the flight deck


Two other shuttles were destroyed in accidents. Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff on January 28, 1986, killing seven astronauts.

Columbia disintegrated as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere over Texas on February 1, 2003, killing seven more astronauts.

The U.S. is ending the 30-year-old shuttle program due to high operating costs and to free up funds to begin work on new spaceship's that can travel to the moon, asteroids and other destinations beyond the station's orbit.

Congress, however, has not yet allocated funds to start new programs.

The U.S. will now rely on the Russian government to launch astronauts to the space station, although it hopes to eventually buy rides from commercial companies, if any develop the capability.

Cargo runs will be handled by Russia, Europe and Japan, as well as two U.S. firms, Space Exploration Technologies and Orbital Sciences.


Astronaut Michael Barratt watches a water bubble float near him on Discovery's mid-deck (left), while his colleague Eric Boe takes a photo of the ISS on the flight deck


STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery Lands To Complete Her Final Mission To Space


source : dailymail