File:STS-133_Space_Shuttle_Discovery_after_undocking_3_(cropped).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Discovery
Also known as OV-103, Space Shuttle Discovery, OV103, Orbital Vehicle 103, Discovery Space Shuttle
American Space Shuttle orbiter
AI overview
Space Shuttle Discovery is a reusable spacecraft that was part of NASA's Space Shuttle program, designed to carry astronauts and cargo to orbit and back to Earth. It matters because it was used for numerous important missions including deploying satellites, conducting scientific research, and helping to construct and resupply the International Space Station.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Described at
Space Shuttle - NASA
NASA’s shuttle fleet achieved numerous firsts and opened up space to more people than ever before during the Space Shuttle Program’s 30 years of missions.
nasa.gov →NASA’s shuttle fleet achieved numerous firsts and opened up space to more people than ever before during the Space Shuttle Program’s 30 years of missions. From the first launch on April 12, 1981 to the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA's space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations. An idea born in unsettled times becomes a feat of engineering excellence. The most complex machine ever built to bring humans to and from space and eventually construct the next stop on the road to space exploration. Second test flight of the Space Shuttle to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew. The first operational mission of the Shuttle, which deployed two commercial satellites. STS-6 was the maiden flight of Challenger. STS-6 deployed the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-1) into orbit. STS-7 carried Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space. STS-8 carried Guion Bluford who became the first African-American to fly in space. INSAT-1B, a multipurpose satellite for India which… STS-9 carried the first Spacelab mission and the first astronaut to represent the European Space Agency. On this mission the first untethered space walks were carried out by McCandless and Stewart, using the manned maneuvering unit. The primary payload of the mission was the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The primary payloads for the mission were three commercial communications satellites – SBS-4 for… Explore chronologies, publications, oral histories and more to dig into the details of the history of NASA's Space Shuttle Program.
Excerpt from a page describing this subject · 40,000 chars · not written by Vinony
Wikidata facts
~12 min read
Article
Space Shuttle Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Discovery rollout ceremony in October 1983 Discovery and SCA 905 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, November 6, 1983
Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter. The spaceplane was one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft as of December 2024. The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.