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One Final Mission
During its 27 years of service from 1984 to 2011, space shuttle Discovery has completed 39 successful missions (more than any other space shuttle), including deploying the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit, assembly and research missions for the International Space Station, and being the "Return To Flight" orbiter after both the 1986 Challenger disaster and the 2003 Columbia disaster to resume NASA's space shuttle program. Cumulatively, it has spent one full year in space. Talk about persistence! This photo captures the retired space shuttle on its "final mission" - moving to its new home at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum where it will be on display permanently. Seeing it airborne for the last time with my own eyes - the experience was unbelievable.

Aperture: 11Shutter: 1/2500
ISO: 800Flash: Off
Distance: infinity

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