On display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and Space Museum. Named after a sailing ship that had pioneered scientific research, Discovery flew its first mission in 1984 and last in 2011 for a total of 39 spaceflights, more than any other Space Shuttle or spacecraft. It spent 365 days in space and clocked more than 238 million km. Reinforced carbon-carbon on the nose cone differs in color with the tessellation of 30,757 silica tiles forming the heat shield.

Shuttle development vehicle used for the Approach and Landing Test Program

Of all the larger exhibits at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center I presumed beforehand that this Shuttle would interest me the least. However, once actually up close to 'Discovery' I was completely starstruck, just trying to comprehend fully what it had experienced and what it had achieved was quite awe-inspiring.

The business end of 'Discovery'. After a total of exactly one year in space she has earned her retirement at the NASM Udvar-Hazy center.