On August 30th , 1984 , the space shuttle Discovery launched on its first voyage to space . It was n’t the first , but over the next 27 years it became the undeniable king of NASA ’s shuttle program .
That first launching 30 years ago was a percipient success , but it capped off an incredibly rocky month for the then - newfangled shuttle . Three old launch attempts had been abandoned before liftoff due to last - minute malfunction and errors . By the time August 30th roll out around , Discovery ’s crew must have been moderately jumpy .
But at 8:41 AM , 30 years ago today , Discovery bring up off from Kennedy Space Center on a six - daytime mission to deploy communications satellites and conduct outer space experiments . Here ’s the full footage of Discovery ’s first liftoff , from YouTube ’s Space Technology :
Despite a few speed excrescence on the agency to its first mission , Discovery soon became the champion of the space shuttle program . The birdie fly 39 mission between 1984 and 2011 , more than any of the other four shuttle . Discovery carried the first Senator , the first Latina , and the oldest astronaut — John Glenn , then 77 — to out distance . It completed the first 360 degree pitch shot tactical manoeuvre in outer space , aviate by the first female shuttle commandant , Eileen Collins(though Collins ’ first mission as bird air force officer was at the helm of Columbia ) .
More importantly , Discovery became the comeback paladin for NASA . The Challenger disaster of 1986 and the Columbia disaster of 2003 shocked the mankind , both put a impermanent halt to blank space missionary station and rattle the firmness of our nation ’s infinite program .
Discovery was the shuttle that render NASA to space after both of those disasters . In 1988 and 2005 , nervous eye around the earth determine as Discovery stand up on NASA ’s big stage , predict to consign forwards after tragedy .
Let ’s go back and live over those moments . From 1988 :
YouTube video recording courtesy Andregrindle
And 2005 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_rbEqVjS6k
YouTube video courtesy p1tsel
The hardest working shuttle in outer space business flew 149 million mile , orb earth 5,830 time , and spent a accumulative 365 days in outer space . Its 27 - twelvemonth vocation held all the stylemark NASA hoped to accomplish with the shuttle : Reliable , reusable , durable space vehicle that could abide up to dozens of missions .
Discovery ’s last flight was a small less intriguing than the 38 missions it flew during its help : On August 17th , 2012 , the undisputed champ of the shuttle program flew a triumph overlap around Washington , D.C. , sit atop a Boeing 747 on its path to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Annex . It was perhaps the least challenging flight Discovery ever take , but it was no less awe - inspiring :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5eFiZaVN3w
YouTube video recording courtesy CBS News
The hero of the shuttle program now rests well in the Smithsonian ’s hanger in Chantilly , VA.you could glint at it any time daytime or night via Smithsonian ’s live camera . After nearly 150 million arduous miles , Discovery depend a little Rider Haggard and drawn . But in its 27 - twelvemonth life history , it did n’t just behave astronaut to blank — it carried the hope and dreams of mankind , and convey them back from the pits of desperation .
Rest well-situated , sure-enough friend .
Photo byAndrew Liszewski .
NASAOuter spaceSpace Shuttle
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and civilization news in your inbox daily .
newsworthiness from the time to come , fork over to your present tense .
You May Also Like
