Facts about Space Shuttle Discovery
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Orbiter OV-103, Discovery's designation, underwent a 900-day overhaul between 1984 and 1985 before its maiden flight after being purchased from Rockwell International.
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Over 143 astronauts flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery across its 39 missions, making it the most-flown spacecraft in human spaceflight history.
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Space Shuttle Discovery completed its final mission STS-135 on July 21, 2011, after 39 flights spanning 27 years and accumulating over 148 million miles.
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On March 24, 2001, Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the Destiny laboratory module to the International Space Station, establishing the first permanent American research facility in orbit.
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Astronaut John Glenn flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-95 in October 1998 at age 77, making him the oldest person to reach orbit.
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Discovery launched the Chandra X-ray Observatory on STS-93 in July 1999, an orbiting telescope that revolutionized high-energy astrophysics.
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In 1984, Space Shuttle Discovery became NASA's third operational orbiter, launching on its maiden flight on August 30th with a five-person crew.
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The 27-ton Space Shuttle Discovery carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit on STS-31 in April 1990, enabling decades of transformative astronomical discoveries.
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During its 39 missions spanning 1984 to 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery traveled approximately 148.2 million miles in orbit around Earth.