Orbiter Reentry And Landing Sequence | Discovery Space Shuttle | Blueprint Design | NASA Art Print

Discovery, the oldest and most experienced of the current orbiter vehicles, was a key player in the Space Shuttle Program. She was the third of five orbiters built by NASA, with her first flight taking off on August 30, 1984. Unlike previous programs, the SSP focused on cost efficiency and reusability, ultimately leading to the construction of a space station. Discovery flew to space 39 times, more than any other orbiter, and was the first to complete 20 missions. She was chosen as the Return to Flight vehicle after the Challenger and Columbia accidents, and was the first to fly with redesigned SRBs and Phase II and Block I SSMEs. Discovery carried the Hubble Space Telescope to orbit and performed two of its servicing missions. She flew the first and last dedicated DoD missions, as well as the first unclassified defense-related mission. Discovery was crucial to the construction of the International Space Station, flying 13 of the 37 total missions by a U.S. Space Shuttle. She was the first orbiter to dock with the ISS and perform a resident crew exchange.