Shuttle Discovery's Last Mission - Full episode

Control: WE HAVE A GO FOR MAIN ENGINE START... Narrator: ITS FIRST LAUNCH WAS LACED WITH DANGER... Charles Walker: A HYDROGEN FIRE WAS BURNING OUTSIDE THE SPACECRAFT. Narrator: AND ITS FINAL FLIGHT IS LOADED WITH EMOTION. Tim Keyser: THIS ORBITER MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT'S GONNA BE HARD. Astronaut: ROGER THAT. Narrator: IN BETWEEN, IT HELPED TRANSFORM THE POSSIBILITIES OF SPACE EXPLORATION AND BECAME ONE OF THE MOST STORIED SHIPS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. Mission Control: ONE GREAT PICTURE, DISCOVERY. Pam Melroy: THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S HISTORICAL ABOUT ALL OF HER MISSIONS. Narrator: BUT HOW CAN SOMETHING SO BIG... BE SO FRAGILE? Stephanie Stilson: RIGHT NOW IF YOU WERE TO WALK UP AND TRY TO TOUCH DISCOVERY, I'D BE SMACKING YOUR HAND. Narrator: AND HOW WILL THEY DELIVER IT TO THE SMITHSONIAN... WITHOUT DAMAGE? Ray Zink: EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CONTACT COULD BE A MILLION-DOLLAR MISTAKE. Narrator: ON A SUNNY TUESDAY MORNING, THOUSANDS SCAN THE SKIES AROUND WASHINGTON, D.C. Man: I GOT HERE AROUND 6:30 AND THERE WERE ABOUT 600 CARS WAITING IN LINE JUST TO GET TO THE PARKING LOT. Stephanie Stilson: EVERYBODY'S ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHEN IS IT GOING TO ARRIVE, WHERE ARE YOU, HAVE YOU TAKEN OFF YET? Ken Reightler: WELL, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SIT THERE WITH THEIR MOUTH OPEN BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU NORMALLY SEE EVERY DAY FOR SURE. Narrator: IN FACT, IT'S A ONCE-IN-HISTORY EVENT-- THE FINAL FLIGHT OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY. IN 1984, A SIMILAR SENSE OF ANTICIPATION SURROUNDED DISCOVERY ON THE MORNING OF HER MAIDEN FLIGHT-- NASA MISSION STS-41-D. Mission Control: THIS IS THE ORBITER DISCOVERY BEFORE ITS FIRST LAUNCH FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. Narrator: FOR A BRAND NEW SPACE SHUTTLE, THERE IS NO TEST FLIGHT. THE FIRST MISSION IS THE TEST FLIGHT. Charles Walker: I FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH IT... NOW I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M READY TO GO. YOU'RE RIDING 4 MILLION POUNDS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO GO OFF IN A CONTROLLED FASHION IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AT THE RIGHT RATE. YOU WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS RIDE. Mission Control: T MINUS 15 SECONDS AND COUNTING. Walker: COUNTDOWN GETS DOWN TO THE PLANNED T MINUS 5 SECONDS WHEN THE FIRST ENGINE IS IGNITED, AND HERE WE GO. Mission Control: WE HAVE A GO FOR MAIN ENGINE START, 7, 6, 5, WE HAVE MAIN ENGINE START... Walker: T MINUS 4 SECONDS, THE SECOND ENGINE BEGINS. T MINUS 3 SECONDS, AND AS THE THIRD ENGINE WAS BEGINNING TO LIGHT UP... Mission Control: WE HAVE A CUTOFF. Walker: WE'D ALL ANTICIPATED THE DISTANT ROAR OF THE ROCKET ENGINES, BUT TO HEAR SUDDENLY THERE TO BE A GRINDING SOUND THAT WAS-- STILL TO THIS DAY THE HAIR STANDS UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK. [COMMUNICATION CHATTER] Narrator: THE GRINDING SOUND WAS MASSIVE VALVES SLAMMING SHUT-- CUTTING OFF A HALF MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL SURGING FROM THE ORANGE EXTERNAL TANK INTO THE SHUTTLE'S THREE MAIN ENGINES. [COMMUNICATION CHATTER] Mission Control: WE HAVE AN ABORT BY THE ONBOARD COMPUTERS OF THE ORBITER DISCOVERY. Narrator: A COMPUTER HAD DETECTED A PROBLEM WITH AN ENGINE VALVE AND AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN THE LAUNCH. THE CREW WAITED FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM MISSION CONTROL-- ANYTHING FROM "SIT TIGHT" TO "EVACUATE"-- ALL IN NASA-SPEAK, OF COURSE. Walker: MODE ONE EGRESS. NOW THAT'S NASA TERMINOLOGY FOR GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. Narrator: BUT MISSION CONTROL DEEMED THE VEHICLE SAFE AND DID NOT ORDER AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. Walker: WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT UNIGNITED PROPELLANT LEAVING THE ROCKET ENGINES HAD IGNITED. AND A HYDROGEN FIRE WAS BURNING OUTSIDE THE SPACECRAFT. Narrator: AT FIRST, NO ONE KNEW THE FIRE WAS BURNING. HAD MISSION CONTROL CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION, THE CREW WOULD HAVE MET AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE. Mission Control: WE HAVE RED LINES ON ENGINES 2 AND 3 IN THE COCKPIT, NOT ON ONE... Walker: IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR ANYBODY. Narrator: WITH THE CREW STILL INSIDE, THE FIRE WAS AUTOMATICALLY PUT OUT. SO THERE WAS NO CATASTROPHE... BUT NO LAUNCH, EITHER. FOR A SHIP THAT WOULD BECOME THE QUEEN OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE FLEET, IT WAS AN INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNING. ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER, DISCOVERY WAITS FOR ITS FINAL JOURNEY. SHE HAS THE WEATHERED LOOK OF AN OLD BUT PROUD SHIP. Stephanie Stilson: OKAY, SO THIS IS ORBITER DISCOVERY. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SURPRISES PEOPLE A LOT WHEN THEY GET TO SEE AN ORBITER UP CLOSE IS IT LOOKS DIRTY; IT LOOKS WORN. BUT I THINK THAT REALLY GIVES IT CHARACTER. THAT SHOWS OF WHAT IT'S BEEN THROUGH, WHAT IT'S DONE ESPECIALLY ON A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE'VE REALLY MADE GOOD USE OF THESE VEHICLES. Narrator: FOR 11 YEARS, STEPHANIE LED THE TEAM THAT GOT THE SHIP READY FOR EACH MISSION. THEY KNEW EVERY INCH OF DISCOVERY. Stephanie: IT'S REALLY LIKE A CHILD MORE THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE WE TAKE SUCH GOOD CARE OF THESE VEHICLES. RIGHT NOW IF YOU WERE TO WALK UP AND TRY TO TOUCH DISCOVERY, I'D BE SMACKING YOUR HAND BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ENGRAINED TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLES. Narrator: NOW SHE'S LEADING THE PREPARATIONS FOR DISCOVERY'S LAST FLIGHT, TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. Stephanie: I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I KNOW THE SMITHSONIAN IS GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS WITH DISCOVERY AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY WELL RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE SAD FOR ME TO KNOW THAT I CAN'T WALK INTO A PROCESSING FACILITY EVERY DAY AND TAKE A LOOK AT DISCOVERY AND MAKE SURE SHE'S DOING OKAY. Valerie Neal: THIS IS THE MOST INTACT OF THE ORBITERS. IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE THE REFERENCE VEHICLE, AND WE ASKED THEM TO LEAVE IT AS INTACT AS POSSIBLE. Narrator: WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM WAS ENDING, VALERIE NEAL AND THE SMITHSONIAN REQUESTED DISCOVERY FOR THEIR AIR AND SPACE COLLECTION. Valerie: WHEN A CURATOR IS CONSIDERING COLLECTING AN ARTIFACT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STANDARDS THAT ARE APPLIED. THE PRINCIPAL ONE IS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THEN WE ALSO LOOK AT THE NATURE OF THE OBJECT ITSELF. IS IT THE ONLY ONE? IS IT RARE? IS IT THE FIRST ONE? IS IT THE LAST ONE? DISCOVERY HITS AN "A" ON EVERY MEASURE. Narrator: THAT'S BECAUSE DISCOVERY CLOCKED MORE TIME IN SPACE THAN ANY OTHER SHUTTLE... FLEW MILLIONS OF MILES... AND WAS THE CATALYST FOR MANY HISTORIC SPACE FIRSTS. SHE HAD A LIFE UNLIKE ANY OTHER. [COMMUNICATION CHATTER] Narrator: AND ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO FLEW HER, SHE ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE A LIFE OF HER OWN. Mission Control: CLOSING THE LOCKING VISOR, INITIATING FLOW... Walker: YOU'VE GOT SYSTEMS THAT ARE TURNING ON, TURNING OFF, VALVES, VENTS... AND YOU JUST GET THE SENSE THAT THIS THING IS READY TO GO SOMEWHERE. IT WANTS TO LEAVE THIS PLANET. Mission Control: GET READY TO WITNESS THE MAJESTY AND THE POWER OF DISCOVERY AS SHE LIFTS OFF... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6... GO FOR MAIN ENGINE START... 2, 1... BOOSTER IGNITION... Frank Culbertson: AS THE ENGINES START UP AND BUILD UP TO THEIR MILLION AND A HALF POUNDS OF THRUST, THEY START BENDING THE ENTIRE STACK ABOUT SIX FEET. AND WE CALL THAT THE TWANG. Mission Control: 2, 1, BOOSTER IGNITION... AND LIFTOFF OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY, PAVING THE WAY FOR FUTURE MISSIONS AND BEYOND. Culbertson: KABOOM, YOU KNOW, A MACK TRUCK HITS YOU IN THE BUTT AND YOU'RE OFF THE PAD. AND WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES. Mission Control: HOUSTON NOW CONTROLLING THE FLIGHT OF DISCOVERY. Bill Readdy: YOU LEAP OFF THE LAUNCH PAD. Mission Control: ROGER, ROLL, DISCOVERY... WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENGINES NOW... Walker: THE ACCELERATION OF THE 4-MILLION-POUND ROCKET SHIP INTO THE SKY PUSHES YOU BACK INTO YOUR SEAT. YOU'RE ACCELERATING AT ALMOST TWO TIMES THE FORCE OF GRAVITY. Readdy: AND WITHIN SECONDS YOU'RE ALREADY GOING A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR. YOU'VE GOT YOUR VISORS DOWN. YOU'RE HUFFING AND PUFFING, TRYING TO KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU AND GET A BREATH... Mission Control: DISCOVERY, HOUSTON, YOU ARE GO AT THROTTLE UP. Readdy: AND ACCELERATING TO GO SUPERSONIC. Mission Control: LOOKING FOR MACH 1 RIGHT NOW... Walker: YOU GET TO MACH 1 IN JUST 70 SECONDS. Mission Control: COPY, GO AT THROTTLE UP. Readdy: AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE SOLIDS ARE JETTISONED. Walker: THESE MASSIVE EXPLOSIVE BOLTS THAT ARE HOLDING THEM ON TO THE EXTERNAL TANK ARE EXPLODED. GOOD THING FOR TRAINING. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR LOUD NOISES YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING ON YOUR WAY TO SPACE. Readdy: IT FEELS AS THOUGH SUDDENLY YOU JUST HIT A BRICK WALL GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION... BECAUSE ALL OF THAT THRUST FROM THE SOLID ROCKETS IS GONE. Walker: AND YOU LITERALLY HEAR THE STRAIN OF THE STRUCTURE AROUND YOU CREAKING AND MOANING AS IT LITERALLY STOPS ACCELERATING AND GOES INTO ARREST, SO TO SPEAK. YOU'RE TRAVELING 17,500 MILES AN HOUR, BUT RELATIVELY SPEAKING, NO MORE ACCELERATION. Readdy: AND SUDDENLY YOU START TO SEE THINGS FLOATING ON THEIR TETHERS. YOUR CHECKLIST FLOATS ON ITS TETHER. YOUR PENCIL FLOATS ON ITS TETHER. YOUR ARMS FLOAT. Walker: AND I'M THINKING, MAN, I AM HERE. Readdy: YOU KNOW, MY FIRST FLIGHT INTO SPACE ON DISCOVERY, I GOT TO TELL YOU, WAS JUST THE MOST AMAZING, MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE YOU CAN IMAGINE. Narrator: EVERY FLIGHT GAVE THRILLS TO THE ASTRONAUTS, BUT ALSO ADDED BURN MARKS, CHIPS, AND STREAKS TO DISCOVERY. TO NASA, IT WAS DAMAGE TO FIX. TO THE SMITHSONIAN, IT'S A STORY TO PRESERVE. Stephanie: I THINK THE BIGGEST SURPRISE FROM TALKING TO VALERIE EARLY ON WAS THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT US TO FIX ANYTHING ON THE OUTER SURFACE. SO HERE WE ARE; I'M NORMALLY IN THE MODE OF OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO GO FIX TILE, REPAIR TILE, GET IT BACK TO WHERE IT'S READY TO LAUNCH AGAIN, AND SHE SAID OH, NO, NO, NO. I WANT IT TOOK AS IF IT HAD JUST LANDED ON THE RUNWAY AND WE TOWED IT RIGHT INTO THE HANGAR. Valerie: DISCOVERY LOOKS AS IF IT'S BEEN TO SPACE AND BACK 39 TIMES, AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD LOOK. Malcolm Collum: WITH ALL OF ITS SCARS AND RE-ENTRY BURNS, ALL OF THAT STUFF, IT JUST ADDS TO THE CHARACTER OF THE ARTIFACT. WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE DISCOVERY SHOW UP FROM NASA WITH A BRAND NEW PAINT JOB. Stephanie: HERE WE CAN SEE IF YOU LOOK CLOSE A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE. NORMALLY IF WE WERE GOING TO FLY AGAIN WE WOULD FIX THAT. BUT BECAUSE WE WANT DISCOVERY TO LOOK AS FLIGHT-LIKE AS POSSIBLE FROM ITS LAST MISSION, STS-133, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THAT JUST AS IT IS. Narrator: DESPITE BEING A ROBUST, LONG-LIVED SPACESHIP, DISCOVERY IS QUITE FRAGILE. FOR INSTANCE, THE THERMAL TILES CAN WITHSTAND THE PUNISHING HEAT OF RE-ENTRY. BUT THEY CANNOT WITHSTAND THE POKE OF A FINGER. Stephanie: I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT IF I WERE TO TAP ON THIS TILE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW, I COULD BREAK IT WITH MY FINGERNAIL JUST BY TAPPING IT. I COULD CHIP IT AND LEAVE A MARK LIKE THAT. Narrator: AND THE SIDE OF THE ORBITER IS NOT A HARD SURFACE. THESE ARE THERMAL BLANKETS THAT NEED CONSTANT CARE. Stephanie: AND I'M TALKING DOWN TO A LEVEL OF WHERE WE'RE INSPECTING STITCHES ON BLANKETS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY THERE AND IF THEY NEED TO BE RE-STITCHED OR WHATNOT. Narrator: THIS PRECISE ATTENTION TO DETAIL WAS NOT JUST A MATTER OF PRIDE-- IT WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. ASTRONAUTS FLEW DISCOVERY KNOWING THAT THEIR FATE WAS IN THE HANDS OF EACH TECHNICIAN. Kathy Thornton: THAT SPACESHIP BELONGS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WHO PUT IT TOGETHER, WHO GLUE TILES ON, WHO KEEP IT RUNNING, WHO INSTALL THE PAYLOADS, WHO INSTALL ALL PARTS OF IT; THAT'S THEIR SPACESHIP, AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE'RE JUST BORROWING IT FROM THEM. Pam Melroy: IT'S NOT REALLY ROCKET ENGINES THAT LAUNCH SPACE SHUTTLES. IT'S PEOPLE THAT LAUNCH SPACE SHUTTLES. Narrator: EVERY HOUR IN SPACE TOOK DAYS OF PREP ON THE GROUND. THE MINUTE DISCOVERY TOUCHED DOWN, GROUND CREW TOOK CONTROL. Mike Parrish: SO WE GET TO GO IN AND WE GET TO PLAY ASTRONAUT, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TO CHECK OUT THE SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE. WE ALL KIND OF LOOK AT EACH OTHER LIKE CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE REALLY HERE ON THE FLIGHT DECK, YOU KNOW, AFTER IT CAME BACK FROM SPACE? IT'S PRETTY HUMBLING. Narrator: THEN THE CREW GAVE DISCOVERY A CLOSE INSPECTION, NOSE TO TAIL. IT TOOK WEEKS TO PORE OVER THE MOST COMPLICATED FLYING MACHINE EVER BUILT, WITH MORE THAN 25,000 THERMAL TILES, 230 MILES OF WIRING, AND HOSES DRIPPING WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. IT TOOK TREMENDOUS SKILL AND UNCOMMON DEDICATION. Cliff Semonski: MOST OF MY TIME WAS SPENT WORKING ON DISCOVERY. SHE WAS KIND OF LIKE OUR BABY THERE... JUST BEING ABLE TO CRAWL ON DISCOVERY EVERY DAY AND WORK AND MISS-- WE MISS LAUNCHING-- LAUNCHING, YOU KNOW, GETTING-- GETTING THE VEHICLE READY FOR THE NEXT LAUNCH. THAT'S--THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD. Tim Keyser: FOR ME IT WILL BE COMING IN EVERY DAY RUSHING TO GET TO WORK. IT'S NOT A JOB FOR ME; IT'S GREAT. I COME TO WORK; I GET TO TOUCH THE GREATEST MACHINE IN THE WORLD, AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 23 YEARS, AND NO JOKE, I RUSH TO WORK. I MEAN, I'M GOING TO MISS THAT. Cliff: AND STAY LATE. Tim: YEAH; STAY LATE. Narrator: TIM AND CLIFF ARE HELPING TO PREPARE DISCOVERY FOR ITS FINAL JOURNEY TO THE SMITHSONIAN. BUT THIS FLIGHT IS FAR FROM SIMPLE. THE CUSTOM 747 THAT FERRIES THE SHUTTLE IS A MARVEL IN ITS OWN RIGHT. INSIDE, IT'S NEARLY HOLLOW TO SAVE WEIGHT. ON TOP, THREE ATTACH POINTS BALANCE THE WEIGHT OF THE 175,000-POUND ORBITER. MOUNTING IT TAKES A COMBINATION OF BRUTE FORCE AND DELICATE MANEUVERING. AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, THIS SPECIALLY DESIGNED MATE-DEMATE DEVICE HANDLED THE JOB FOR YEARS, THANKS TO A WELL-TRAINED CREW. Tony Sabatino: WE'RE GOING TO LIFT IT AND SET IT ON BACK OF THE 747, SO THEY CAN SHIP IT OFF TO THE MUSEUM. THEY'RE 55-TON CRANES. THERE'S THREE OF THEM ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL AS TO NOT SQUISH SOMEBODY'S FINGERS, SO TO SPEAK. Narrator: THE STRUCTURE IS 11 STORIES TALL... ABLE TO LIFT AN ORBITER THAT WEIGHS ALMOST 90 TONS AND MANEUVER IT JUST MILLIMETERS AT A TIME. Ray Zink: YOU'RE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF HARDWARE, PEOPLE'S LIVES IN EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE-- Tony: RIGHT; YEAH. Ray: OUR COMMUNICATION HAS TO BE RIGHT ON. Narrator: THE MATE-DEMATE DEVICE AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TAKES A TRICKY PROCEDURE AND MAKES IT RELATIVELY ROUTINE. BUT WHEN DISCOVERY LANDS AT DULLES AIRPORT NEAR WASHINGTON, GETTING HER OFF THE 747 WILL BE ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE. NASA DOESN'T LAND A SHUTTLE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE VERY OFTEN. Mission Control: FROM HOUSTON, WINDS 1-9-0 AT 1-4. Narrator: AFTER EIGHT DAYS IN SPACE, BAD WEATHER FORCED COLUMBIA TO LAND ON THE DESERT FLATS OF NEW MEXICO. Mission Control: WHOA... WHOA. Narrator: THEN FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE NASA CREW USED A REMOTE CRANE SYSTEM TO LIFT THE ORBITER ONTO A 747 FOR THE FERRY FLIGHT BACK TO FLORIDA. THE HARDWARE FOR THIS OPERATION WAS TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN-- 40 RAIL CARS IN ALL-- FROM OVER A THOUSAND MILES AWAY, TO THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. THANKFULLY, IT WORKED. THERE WAS NO PLAN B. TODAY, NONE OF THE CREW FROM 1982 ARE STILL AROUND. Stephanie: IT'S BEEN IN BOXES, AND OBVIOUSLY THE TEAM OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE USING IT NOW WERE NOT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT USED IT BACK THEN. EVERYONE IS READING THE MANUAL. Narrator: OFFLOADING DISCOVERY ON A WIDE OPEN TARMAC, IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AIRPORT, IS A RARE AND RISKY CHALLENGE. NASA HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR A YEAR, AND NOW DISCOVERY'S ARRIVAL IS JUST DAYS AWAY. Stephanie: WE EXPECT TO HAVE DISCOVERY ARRIVE ON THE 17th, SO THAT'S TUESDAY. IT'S WHAT, THURSDAY TODAY? SO WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE. Narrator: OVER THE LAST MONTH, THIS LARGE AND REMOTE CONCRETE SLAB HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO DISCOVERY'S FINAL OFFLOAD SITE. Stephanie: FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WE HAD 20 PLUS TRUCKS, CONEX BOXES, THINGS LIKE THAT COMING UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE JOB. Narrator: IT ALL STARTS WITH TWO MASSIVE CRANES. ONE CAN EXTEND OVER 500 FEET HIGH AND LIFT UP TO 660 TONS. Stephanie: THE AFT CRANE TAKES THE WEIGHT OF THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORWARD CRANE IS MORE FOR GUIDANCE AND TO HELP STABILIZE IT. Narrator: THE CRANES LIFT A GIANT SLING-- A CUSTOMIZED STEEL FRAMEWORK-- THAT ATTACHES TO THE SHUTTLE. Ray: IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND TRAVEL THE WORLD WHEREVER IT NEEDED TO GO. Man: 300...350. LITTLE MORE, PAT. KEEP GOING. Narrator: ONCE LIFTED, THE SHUTTLE IS A SUSPENDED LOAD OF ALMOST 90 TONS, DANGLING PRECARIOUSLY OVER THE WORK CREW. STABILITY IS CRUCIAL. Ray: THE ORBITER IS A PRETTY BIG SAIL, AND WHEN THE WIND HITS IT, IT CAN MOVE A LOT. SO IT'S GONNA BE A REAL CHALLENGE IF IT GETS ABOVE 10 KNOTS. Narrator: TO STABILIZE THE SUSPENDED SHUTTLE, THEY ARE CONSTRUCTING AN ELABORATE WIND RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FIRST, FOUR LARGE POLES ARE ANCHORED INTO THE CONCRETE. Ray: PRE-PLANNING THIS, WE HAD TO CALL ALL THE AIRPORTS UP AND LET 'EM KNOW, HEY, CAN WE DRILL A COUPLE OF HUNDRED HOLES IN YOUR CONCRETE? AND SO YEAH, AT FIRST THEY WERE KIND OF SURPRISED, LIKE, HOW MANY HOLES IN THE CONCRETE? Narrator: A STEEL CABLE RUNS FROM EACH POLE TO THE SLING. WORKERS WILL ADJUST THE TENSION TO KEEP DISCOVERY STABLE. Valerie: YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BECOME A WIND CHIME. YOU WANT IT TO BE HELD STEADY BECAUSE IF IT GETS CAUGHT IN THE BREEZE AND STARTS MOVING, THERE GO THE CRANES, THERE GOES THE ORBITER. Narrator: TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF ANY WIND, THE 747 WILL BE PARKED POINTING NORTH. Ray: THE WINDS COME OUT OF THIS DIRECTION THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE WIND BLOWING DOWN THE NOSE WILL BE A LOT LESS TROUBLE THAN THE WIND BLOWING AGAINST THE SIDE WHERE YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE MOVEMENT. Narrator: A SLIGHT KNOCK AGAINST A CRANE OR CHERRY PICKER COULD BE DISASTROUS. Ray: EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CONTACT COULD BE A MILLION-DOLLAR MISTAKE. Narrator: THAT'S WHY IN TODAY'S WINDS THEY WOULD NOT ATTEMPT THE OFFLOAD. THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE. DURING ITS LONG CAREER, DISCOVERY TOOK 251 ASTRONAUTS INTO THE VACUUM OF SPACE. AND SHE LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. Melroy: MY FIRST FLIGHT WAS ON DISCOVERY, AND THAT WAS STS-92. I MEAN, IT IS AN AMAZING THING TO SPEND MOST OF YOUR LIFE WANTING TO BE AN ASTRONAUT AND ACTUALLY GETTING TO GO IN SPACE. AND IT'S JUST-- IT'S SO EXTRAORDINARY TO HAVE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE. WE'VE GOT ONE BIG THING LEFT TO DO, AND THAT'S GO HOME. Woman: PILOT KEN REIGHTLER, ON THE SHUTTLE THIS MORNING... Reightler: DISCOVERY, THAT WAS THE FIRST SHUTTLE THAT I SAW, THE ORBITER THAT I SAW; IT WAS THE FIRST LAUNCH THAT I SAW. SO THERE WAS THIS KIND OF BOND THAT STARTED THAT CONTINUED ON WITH MY ASSIGNMENT TO FLY ON DISCOVERY ON STS-48 AND THEN AGAIN ON STS-60. Carl Walz: YOU KNOW, DISCOVERY WAS MY FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE... Man: THERE'S CARL WALZ, AND THAT'S NUMBER THREE. Walz: AND BECAUSE IT WAS MY FIRST SHUTTLE FLIGHT AND WE DID SO MANY REMARKABLE THINGS ON THAT FLIGHT, ALWAYS WILL BE A SPECIAL VEHICLE FOR ME. Narrator: DISCOVERY LEFT MANY FOND MEMORIES IN HER WAKE. SHE ALSO LEFT QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY IN ORBIT. HER MANIFEST READS LIKE A TEXTBOOK OF SPACE FIRSTS. Readdy: I THINK THE MISSION TO DEPLOY THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE MAY WIND UP BEING PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC THAT WAS EVER LAUNCHED. Man: MISSION SPECIALIST KATHY SULLIVAN CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR DEPLOY OPERATIONS. Kathy Sullivan: THE HUBBLE COMPLETELY FILLED THE PAYLOAD BAY OF THE ORBITER WITH REALLY JUST INCHES TO SPARE TO EACH SIDE AND A FEW FEET FORE AND AFT. Mission Control: YOU GOT A GO FOR HST DEPLOY OPS. Valerie: I THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE WAS LAUNCHED ON DISCOVERY BECAUSE THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT DISCOVERY. IT HAS SHOWN US ASPECTS OF THIS UNIVERSE THAT ARE COMPLETELY FASCINATING, MAGICAL, UNKNOWN. Narrator: DISCOVERY NOT ONLY COLLECTED THE LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSE, SHE ALSO REFLECTED THE POLITICS OF EARTH. Reightler: SERGEI KRIKALEV WAS THE FIRST RUSSIAN COSMONAUT TO FLY WITH US ON STS-60. IT WAS A U.S./RUSSIAN JOINT MISSION; BUT IT WAS REALLY MORE THAN THAT. Valerie: IT REALLY SIGNALED A WHOLE NEW ERA IN SPACE IN WHICH THE PREVIOUS COLD WAR RIVALS WERE NOW GOING TO TRY TO COOPERATE IN SPACE. Narrator: THIS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION RESULTED IN THE WORLD'S MOST COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS BY FAR THE LARGEST STRUCTURE IN ORBIT. IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD. DISCOVERY HELPED BRING IT UP, PIECE BY PIECE. Readdy: ALL OF THESE PIECES HAD TO BE ASSEMBLED UP THERE, AND SO MANY OF THOSE PIECES NEVER ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY MATED DOWN HERE ON PLANET EARTH BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT IN RUSSIA, JAPAN, OVER IN EUROPE, IN CANADA, IN THE UNITED STATES. AND YOU WERE ABLE TO FIT THEM TOGETHER AND THEY ALL WORKED THE FIRST TIME YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER IN SPACE. Astronaut: ...COMING FORWARD IN THE PAYLOAD BAY. Readdy: I THINK IT'S A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Narrator: HISTORIC MISSIONS LIKE THIS MAKE DISCOVERY IDEAL FOR THE SMITHSONIAN. BUT THEY CAN'T PUT HER BEHIND GLASS OR IN A DRAWER. SHE'S ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST FRAGILE ARTIFACTS IN THE WORLD. IT HELPS THAT SHE'S GOING TO A VERY LARGE MUSEUM. Rich Kowalczyk: BEHIND ME IS THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENTERPRISE WHICH IS GOING TO BE LEAVING HERE NEXT MONTH TO BE REPLACED WITH SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY. Narrator: ENTERPRISE WAS THE FIRST SHUTTLE EVER BUILT-- A TEST VEHICLE THAT NEVER FLEW IN SPACE. SHE WILL MOVE TO A MUSEUM IN NEW YORK CITY, AND DISCOVERY WILL TAKE HER PLACE IN THE SMITHSONIAN'S SPACE HANGAR. Rich: SQUARE-FOOTAGEWISE, I THINK IT'S 70,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT IT'S ALSO VERTICAL SPACE WHEN YOU DEAL WITH ARTIFACTS THIS BIG. THE TAIL OF THE ENTERPRISE IS 59 1/2 FEET TALL. AIR AND SPACE IS REALLY ABOUT A LOT OF SPACE BECAUSE OUR ARTIFACTS ARE BIG. Narrator: SOME OF THEM ARE BIG. OTHERS ARE SMALLER, BUT NO LESS IMPORTANT TO THE STORY OF SPACE FLIGHT. Malcolm: THIS CAMERA REALLY HELPED TO BRING THE MAGIC OF SPACE FLIGHT TO SO MANY VIEWERS. Narrator: THIS IS THE FIRST IMAX CAMERA TO BE DONATED TO ANY MUSEUM. AND IT FLEW ON DISCOVERY. Malcolm: THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT IT IS HOW HEAVY IT IS. THAT REALLY FLOORED ME. CONSIDERING HOW MANY GALLONS OF FUEL ARE REQUIRED TO GET UP A SINGLE POUND OF WEIGHT INTO ORBIT. IT IS REALLY AN AMAZINGLY HEAVY ARTIFACT. Readdy: I FLEW IMAX ON ALL THREE OF MY MISSIONS. SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU IT'S LIKE HAVING AN ADDITIONAL CREW MEMBER ON BOARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH CARE AND FEEDING TO IT. Narrator: BUT THE IMAGES IT CAPTURED FROM SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ARE NOW PART OF CINEMATIC HISTORY. Walter Cronkite: AT LAST, WE CAN SEE OUR MAGNIFICENT EARTH IN ALL ITS SPLENDOR. Narrator: "THE DREAM IS ALIVE" GAVE IMAX AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD A CHANCE TO LOOK BACK AT THE EARTH ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. Astronaut: ROGER, IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE. Walker: I REMEMBER TO THIS DAY THAT FIRST VIEWING WATERED MY EYES. IT WAS THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING THERE. Narrator: THE IMAX CAMERA IS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS OF ITEMS FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE ERA COLLECTED BY THE SMITHSONIAN. EACH ONE IS A FASCINATING PART OF SPACE HISTORY. Astronaut: ROGER, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT GOOD PAYLOAD BAY DOOR OPENING. Valerie: WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE A CANADA ARM COMING INTO THE NATIONAL COLLECTION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. Narrator: THE CANADA ARM REACHED OUT FROM DISCOVERY TO DEPLOY OR CAPTURE A PAYLOAD, LIKE A SATELLITE OR A SPACE TELESCOPE. Astronaut: WE'RE GONNA GRAPPLE, AND AS SOON AS WE DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ATTITUDE. Readdy: IT'S GOT ALL THE ARTICULATION OF A HUMAN ARM, AND IT'S ALLOWED US TO DEPLOY ALL MANNER OF DIFFERENT TELESCOPES AND SATELLITES AND RETRIEVE THEM, TOO. Astronaut: LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST SHOOK HANDS WITH AN OLD FRIEND. Narrator: THE CANADA ARM ALSO DEPLOYED ASTRONAUTS... WITH A SPECIAL ATTACHMENT. Malcolm: THIS IS A FOOT-RESTRAINT DEVICE THAT WOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE END OF THE CANADA ARM, AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE SERVICING. Astronaut: YOU THINK THE LEFT SIDE IS OK STILL? Malcolm: AND THE ASTRONAUTS WOULD BE BASICALLY PERCHED OUT AT THE END OF THE ARM AND THEIR BOOTS WOULD FIT RIGHT INTO THESE TWO LITTLE RESTRAINTS HERE. Walz: IT COULD ARTICULATE BY THE CREW MEMBER TAKING ONE FOOT OUT OF THESE STIRRUPS AND THEN PRESSING A BUTTON SO THAT THE FOOT RESTRAINT COULD ROTATE. Malcolm: I'M ALWAYS MARVELING AT THE LEVEL OF ENGINEERING OF A LOT OF THESE SPACE-RELATED ARTIFACTS. YOU KNOW, THE FACETS ARE JUST BEAUTIFULLY MACHINED, IT HAS A NICE, SUBTLE POLISH TO IT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUT IN SPACE, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A SPACESUIT AND YOU'RE DOING THESE VERY CRITICAL MISSIONS YOU DON'T WANT ANY SORT OF SHARP EDGES THAT ARE GOING TO POTENTIALLY DAMAGE YOUR SUIT. YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING GO WRONG. Astronaut: WE'RE ABOUT SIX FEET IN FRONT OF THE TELESCOPE, SO YOU CAN TAKE ME UP... Narrator: AN ASTRONAUT IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE WHEN OUT ON A SPACEWALK, OR EVA. Sullivan: THE EVA EXPERIENCE IS REALLY A SPECTACULAR ONE BUT ALSO VERY CHALLENGING. THE SUIT IS VERY BULKY AND TO BE ABLE TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HUMAN CAPABILITY YOU WANT TO STILL BE ABLE TO USE THE FINE DEXTERITY OF OUR HANDS. Valerie: KATHY SULLIVAN WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN TO GO OUTSIDE ON A SPACE WALK... Sullivan: I SUPPOSE YOU'D LIKE SOME TOOLS... Valerie: AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER HER GLOVES WERE OFFERED TO US. Sullivan: THE GLOVES ARE THE ONLY BIT OF THE SHUTTLE SUIT THAT REALLY WERE PRETTY CUSTOM MOLDED TO EACH ASTRONAUT. SO THAT THE TIP OF YOUR FINGER WAS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE TIP OF THE GLOVE. Narrator: SOME ARTIFACTS TELL A STORY OF ENGINEERING AND EXOTIC MATERIALS. OTHERS TELL A STORY OF CULTURE AND CAMARADERIE. MISSION PATCHES ARE ENGRAINED INTO SPACE CULTURE. Astronaut: I KNOW IT'S A GREAT FEELING. Narrator: SINCE THE 1960s, EACH CREW HAS DESIGNED THEIR OWN PATCH, UNIQUE TO THEIR MISSION. MANY SPACE BUFFS COLLECT THEM, AS DOES THE SMITHSONIAN. Valerie: THE MISSION PATCHES ARE A WAY OF SYMBOLIZING WHAT EACH MISSION IS ABOUT AND RECORDING THE CREW WHO WERE ON THAT MISSION. Fred Gregory: OURS IS A LITTLE UNIQUE BECAUSE IT HAS A GOLD STAR ON IT, AND A GOLD STAR WAS PUT THERE FOR DAVID GRIGGS WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL PILOT FOR THE MISSION WHO WAS KILLED SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE LIFTOFF. AND SO WE PLACED THAT THERE IN HONOR OF HIM. Narrator: WHEN THE ASTRONAUT CORPS LOSES ONE OF THEIR OWN, THE SPACE COMMUNITY MOURNS. BUT WHEN LARGER TRAGEDIES STRIKE, THE WHOLE COUNTRY GRIEVES. Mission Control: CHALLENGER, GO AT THROTTLE UP. Narrator: TWO ORBITERS WERE DESTROYED DURING MISSIONS-- Astronaut: ROGER, GO AT THROTTLE UP. Narrator: CHALLENGER DURING LAUNCH IN 1986, AND COLUMBIA DURING RE-ENTRY IN 2003. DEBRIS FROM COLUMBIA WAS SCATTERED ACROSS TEXAS. FOUND AMONG THE WRECKAGE WAS A PERSONAL ITEM BROUGHT INTO SPACE BY ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS. Malcolm: THIS IS A BILLY JOEL CD, A MUSIC CD. THIS WAS OWNED BY ASTRONAUT DAVID BROWN. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW BADLY DISTORTED IT IS, BUT YOU CAN STILL MAKE OUT SOME OF THE MARKINGS THAT ARE ON THE SURFACE. Valerie: IT'S BEEN SPUN AROUND UNDER HIGH HEAT AND UNDER SUCH FORCE THAT IT WAS DEFORMED. IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE FORCE OF THE BREAKUP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DESCENT. Narrator: AFTER EACH TRAGEDY, NASA RETRENCHED. THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM WAS GROUNDED UNTIL INVESTIGATIONS COULD SHAPE NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. SO WITH THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHING AGAIN, THE FIRST LAUNCH AFTER EACH ACCIDENT HAD TO GO FLAWLESSLY. IN BOTH CASES, DISCOVERY LED THE WAY. Stephanie: I THINK THE GREATEST LEGACY FOR DISCOVERY WAS BOTH RETURN-TO-FLIGHT MISSIONS. AND THAT WAS JUST A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION THAT BOTH AFTER CHALLENGER AND THEN AFTER COLUMBIA, DISCOVERY WAS THE VEHICLE THAT GOT US BACK INTO SPACE. Mike: SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HAS BROUGHT US BACK, YOU KNOW, FROM SOME OF THE LOWEST TIMES IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM TO SOME OF THE HIGHEST TIMES IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM. Readdy: YOU KNOW, THE ASTRONAUTS ON CHALLENGER AND COLUMBIA WERE FRIENDS OF MINE, COLLEAGUES; I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED US TO CONTINUE TO PRESS ON. Man: BOOSTER IGNITION AND LIFTOFF OF DISCOVERY. Narrator: AND PRESS ON THEY DID, WITH DISCOVERY REACHING MORE AND MORE MILESTONES. SHE BROUGHT JOHN GLENN BACK INTO SPACE 36 YEARS AFTER HE BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH. John Glenn: IT WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST FLIGHT THAT I MADE IN FRIENDSHIP 7 WAY BACK IN '62. THE MISSION HAD CHANGED FROM ONE OF COULD WE DO THIS TO A MISSION OF BASIC RESEARCH. WE HAD 83 DIFFERENT RESEARCH PROJECTS ON THAT ONE FLIGHT. Narrator: DISCOVERY WAS THE FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE TO BE PILOTED BY A WOMAN-- EILEEN COLLINS. Eileen Collins: I THINK THE BIGGEST MEMORY IS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND PUTTING MY FACE UP AGAINST THE WINDOW, STRETCHING OUT MY ARMS, FLYING OVER THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET. Narrator: LATER, DISCOVERY BROUGHT UP ONE FEMALE COMMANDER TO MEET ANOTHER-- THE FIRST TIME TWO WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE OF TWO SPACESHIPS AT THE SAME TIME. WHILE PEGGY WHITSON WAS COMMANDING THE SPACE STATION, DISCOVERY ARRIVED, LED BY COMMANDER PAM MELROY. Melroy: I THINK THE BEST PART OF IT FOR BOTH OF US WAS THAT IT HAD HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT-- THAT NOBODY HAD SET IT UP AS A PUBLICITY STUNT OR ANYTHING. WHAT IS IT ABOUT DISCOVERY THAT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S HISTORICAL ABOUT ALL OF HER MISSIONS? Narrator: NOW THE HISTORY CONTINUES... WITH ITS FINAL MISSION. Stephanie: DISCOVERY IS READY TO GO RIGHT NOW. SHE'S SITTING IN THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING WRAPPED UP, BUTTONED UP, READY TO GO. Narrator: THEY'VE BEEN PREPARING THIS FLIGHT FOR MONTHS, BUT IT ALL HINGES ON THE WEATHER. Stephanie: WE HAVE VERY STRICT WEATHER CRITERIA FOR THE ACTUAL FERRY FLIGHT ITSELF. IF THE SPACECRAFT TRAVELS THROUGH MOISTURE IN THE AIR, THE WATER DROPLETS BECOME LIKE BBs AND HITTING THOSE BLACK TILE, IT CAN DAMAGE THOSE BLACK TILE. THEY'RE VERY FRAGILE. SO THE MAIN THING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR IS NO PRECIPITATION BETWEEN HERE AND OUR FINAL DESTINATION, THIS CASE BEING DULLES. Tony: THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL THE 747 IN UNDERNEATH IT. WE'LL ACTUALLY LOWER IT DOWN. THERE'S A GROUP OF GUYS THAT ACTUALLY CONNECT IT AND THEY'LL ROLL IT UP AND PREP IT TO FLY OUT OF HERE. Narrator: THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER CREW PREPARES TO MOUNT DISCOVERY ONTO THE 747 FOR THE LAST TIME. Valerie: THIS IS THEIR FINAL MISSION, AND THEY'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITH THE SAME COMMITMENT THAT THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD. AND I'M SURE WITH A CERTAIN POIGNANCY. Tony: IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT IT'S ENDED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LIFE GOES ON. Ray: I'M WITH TONY. I MEAN, 30 YEARS IS A LONG TIME. IN FACT, QUITE HONESTLY WE'VE PROBABLY SPENT MORE TIME WITH OUR WORK FAMILY HERE THROUGH THE LAST 30 YEARS THAN WE HAVE WITH A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES BACK HOME. SO TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS GO AND SEE THAT PROGRAM END, IT BREAKS YOUR HEART. Stephanie: MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT I WORK WITH TODAY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS, AND THIS HAS REALLY BECOME, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEART AND SOUL. THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO. GOODNESS, WE GET TO WORK ON SPACE SHUTTLES. HOW AWESOME IS THAT? Narrator: ON THE MORNING OF DEPARTURE, DAYBREAK REVEALS GOOD FLYING WEATHER IN FLORIDA. Walker: IT'S GOING TO BE A MOMENT I KNOW THAT IS--THAT'S EMOTIONAL Stephanie: WE ALL WANTED TO KEEP FLYING SHUTTLES AS LONG THEY WOULD LET US. BUT YOU DON'T SEE THAT NEGATIVITY. YOU SEE PEOPLE BEING POSITIVE ABOUT, OKAY, WELL, THE PROGRAM IS COMING TO AN END. BUT GUESS WHAT? I GET TO WORK ON THESE SHUTTLES UNTIL THE VERY END. I GET TO BE A PART OF THIS UNTIL THE VERY END. YOU'RE GOING TO BE PEELING OUR FINGERS OFF OF IT AT THE END. Narrator: THIS IS THE LAST FLIGHT OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY. SHE EARNED HER PLACE IN HISTORY... ONE MISSION AT A TIME. Control: LIFTOFF OF MISSION 41-D, THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE ORBITER DISCOVERY, AND THE SHUTTLE HAS CLEARED THE TOWER. Astronaut: ROGER THAT. TELSTAR DEPLOYMENT... MARK. DISCOVERY, YOU ARE GO FOR DEPLOY. IT LOOKS GREAT! WE'LL HAVE TO GO FREE DRIFT HERE, GUYS! REAL NICE, REAL NICE. CLEAR. WOW. HOW ABOUT THAT FOR REAL TIME FEEDBACK? IT'S A GOOD DAY TO GO GRAB YOURSELF A TELESCOPE. LOOKS BEAUTIFUL HOUSTON, JUST BEAUTIFUL. DISCOVERY, PERFORMANCE NOMINAL. ROGER, COPY LOUD AND CLEAR. DISCOVERY, DEPARTING. 5 TILL 5... TOUCH. AND HOUSTON, DISCOVERY FOR THE FINAL TIME, WHEEL STOP. Narrator: WHEEL STOP AFTER DISCOVERY'S FINAL MISSION ENDED HER LIFE IN SPACE. BUT HER NEW LIFE AT THE SMITHSONIAN IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. Pilot: PLUTO 9-5, GO AHEAD. Controller: YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ESCORT? Pilot: NOBODY FOLLOWING US. Man: THANK YOU, SIR. [CHEERING] Narrator: THE PILOTS HAVE CLEARANCE TO CIRCLE AROUND WASHINGTON BEFORE THEY LAND. THOUSANDS COME OUT FOR THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME SPECTACLE. Controller: POTOMAC, PLUTO 9-5... ONE LAST FLY-BY BEFORE LANDING. Stephanie: I'M ALWAYS STILL A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS WAITING FOR DISCOVERY TO GET BACK ON THE GROUND. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY FOR PAST 12 YEARS, SO ANY TIME SHE'S IN THE AIR, WHETHER SHE'S ON ORBIT, I'M READY TO SEE HER BACK ON THE GROUND. Narrator: DISCOVERY COMES IN FOR FINAL APPROACH. Pilot: PLUTO 9-5... THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK, GENTLEMEN. Controller: THANK YOU! Pilot: PLUTO 9-5, HEAVY FLIGHT CONTACT. Controller: CLEARED TO LAND ON ONE-RIGHT. THE WIND IS 3-4-0 AT 1-4. Pilot: THANK YOU. Woman: HA HA! YES! [CLAPPING] Stephanie: EVERYBODY KEEPS EXPECTING ME TO BE SAD, BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT BE EXCITED BECAUSE WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE THIS WITH THE PUBLIC. MY TEAM STILL HAS AN AMAZING CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF THEM TO GET THE VEHICLE OFFLOADED FROM THE 747, BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THAT AND WE'RE READY TO GO. Valerie: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, IT'S HERE! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO GET HER READY TO COME HERE. I KNOW SHE'S IN YOUR CAPABLE HANDS FOR TWO MORE DAYS. Stephanie: TWO MORE DAYS, AND THEN IT'S ALL YOU. Valerie: I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ORBITER FOR LIKE 20 YEARS. Stephanie: THAT'S VERY TRUE. Valerie: I CAN WAIT TWO MORE DAYS. Narrator: FOR STEPHANIE AND HER TEAM, THERE IS LITTLE TIME TO CELEBRATE. THE TRICKIEST PART OF DISCOVERY'S DELIVERY IS YET TO COME... IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES. Stephanie: YOU CAN TELL HOW HIGH THE WINDS ARE RIGHT NOW, THESE WINDS ARE WAY TOO HIGH FOR US TO DO OUR OFFLOAD OPERATIONS. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GONNA WORK IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT. Narrator: NIGHTTIME USUALLY OFFERS CALMER WINDS. BUT THIS OFFLOAD OPERATION HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE DARK. THE 50-PERSON CREW PREPARES FOR THE FINAL OFFLOAD OF DISCOVERY. LIGHTNING WOULD BE A DEAL BREAKER, BUT RAIN IS MOSTLY A NUISANCE. FIRST, THE AIRCRAFT IS POSITIONED EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE... TO THE INCH. THE SLING IS BROUGHT IN WITH PRECISION AND LOWERED AROUND THE ORBITER. NEXT, THEY TIGHTEN THE WIND RESTRAINT CABLES-- CRUCIAL IN TONIGHT'S CONDITIONS. NOTHING HAPPENS QUICKLY, BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENS CAREFULLY. Stephanie: YOU'RE HOLDING UP THIS 175,000-POUND VEHICLE AND YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE UNDERNEATH IT. SO IF YOU DON'T DO IT CORRECTLY, THAT COULD BE A VERY BAD DAY. Narrator: AFTER 3 A.M., A BLEARY-EYED CREW COMPLETES DISCOVERY'S FINAL TOUCHDOWN. SHE'S ALMOST HOME. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR OF PLANNING AND AN ALL-NIGHT PUSH TO THE FINISH, DISCOVERY MAKES HER WAY TO SMITHSONIAN'S UDVAR-HAZY CENTER. Stephanie: DISCOVERY IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. YOU KNOW, DISCOVERY ITSELF IS MORE THAN JUST THAT ALUMINUM STRUCTURE AND THOSE ENGINES AND THE THRUSTERS AND ALL THAT. IT'S REALLY A SYMBOL OF THE TEAM. AND THEN IF YOU GO EVEN BROADER THAN THAT, IT'S A SYMBOL OF OUR COUNTRY. Readdy: THIS ISN'T JUST A PIECE OF HARDWARE OR SOME KIND OF EXHIBIT; THIS WAS A SPACESHIP THAT FLEW MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF MILES AND DOZENS OF MISSIONS. Walker: THERE IS A REALITY TO THIS SPACECRAFT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE. AND IT HAS. Charles Bolden: TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, AND TO ITS NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF DISCOVERY. Narrator: AFTER A DAY OF CELEBRATION, ENTERPRISE BACKS AWAY... AND DISCOVERY ROLLS THE LAST FEW HUNDRED FEET INTO THE SPACE HANGAR AND INTO HISTORY. Readdy: IF YOU HAD TO PICK WHICH ONE WOULD EXEMPLIFY THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM, IT WOULD BE DISCOVERY. THE STORIES THAT SHIP COULD TELL, IF DISCOVERY COULD TALK. Melroy: PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS, LIKE, YEAH, IT'S DISCOVERY, SO LAUNCH IS GOING TO PRETTY MUCH GO ON TIME AS LONG AS THE WEATHER HOLDS BECAUSE EVERYONE KNEW THAT DISCOVERY WAS THE VEHICLE THAT JUST SEEMED TO HAVE THE CLEANEST FLOWS. Reightler: WE USED TO KID ABOUT DISCOVERY BEING THE QUEEN OF THE FLEET. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF WHAT DISCOVERY HAS DONE, I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SHE IS. Walker: THIS IS A GRAND LADY OF NOT ONLY THE SKIES, BUT OF SPACE, AND SHE BEARS IT WELL. [APPLAUSE] Valerie: PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER THIS FOR A LONG TIME IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE IN THE SMITHSONIAN ARE GOING TO REMEMBER IT FOR A LONG TIME. Narrator: THOSE WHO WORKED IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM SINCE THE BEGINNING GUIDE DISCOVERY TO THE END. Tim: FINAL WHEEL STOP OF DISCOVERY. SHE'S IN HER NEW HOME. THIS ORBITER MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND IT'S GONNA BE HARD. Culbertson: I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FLOWN DISCOVERY AND HONORED TO HAVE COMMANDED HER AT ONE POINT. MEMORIES I WILL KEEP WITH ME FOREVER. YEAH. Sullivan: SHE SERVED WELL; SHE BROUGHT LOTS OF US TO ORBIT AND BACK. SHE SERVED THE COUNTRY WELL. SHE DESERVES TO BE SHOWN WELL, AND SHE DESERVES TO BE SHARED WELL.