Space Shuttle Discovery soars away from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, beginning its maiden voyage and a storied spaceflight career that spanned more than 26 years. The on-time liftoff occurred at 8:42 am E.D.T. on Aug. 30, 1984. Discovery, the longest-serving and most flown of all the shuttles, will be welcomed into the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum collection on April 19, 2012 at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where it will go on permanent display. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Space Shuttle Discovery soars away from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, beginning its maiden voyage and a storied spaceflight career that spanned more than 26 years. The on-time liftoff occurred at 8:42 am E.D.T. on Aug. 30, 1984. Discovery, the longest-serving and most flown of all the shuttles, will be welcomed into the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum collection on April 19, 2012 at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where it will go on permanent display. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
