The end of the U.S. space shuttle program has been big news for awhile.  Many people – myself included – are sad to see these incredibly special shuttles forever grounded.  I suppose it was inevitable – that one day the shuttles would go from being working machines to pieces of American history… and while I’m sure that NASA will reinvigorate itself and come up with new and innovative ways to explore, it will never quite be the same as during the shuttle era.  But, no matter how we feel about it, the shuttle program is over and the shuttles are on their way to their permanent homes in museums around the country.  Atlantis is staying in Florida to become a permanent exhibition at Kennedy Space Center; Endeavor is headed to Los Angeles, California, and Discovery came to us in Washington, D.C., to take up residence at the Smithsonian.  (We already had a shuttle – the prototype Enterprise – which will be moved up to New York by floating on a barge up the Hudson River – pretty cool.)

Last week, Discovery arrived in D.C. on the back of a 747.  I, sadly, missed its flight over Washington, D.C.  I was at work and saw people in the streets, so I ran downstairs to join the fun, but unfortunately the shuttle had already made a few loops around the city and headed off to land at Dulles International Airport by the time I got there.  But hubby would not have missed the shuttle’s last flight for the world, and he headed down to the big party on the National Mall, where the best views could be seen.  He very generously agreed to let me share his pictures with you…

Discovery approaches the Mall, escorted by a couple of fighter jets.  They were about 5 minutes early, so many people missed the initial approach.  Lucky hubby just happened to be looking in the right direction.

Discovery loops over the Mall and the Smithsonian buildings for the entertainment of the crowds.  On the left is the Washington Monument.

Some birds wanted to get in on the action.

They made several passes over the Mall and looped around the Northwest quadrant of the city a few times, only departing for Dulles when the escort jets got down to fuel critical levels.

“Might I suggest holding the morning staff meeting on the roof today, Sir?”

Discovery is now at the Smithsonian out near Dulles, and I can’t wait to visit it.  And while I’m looking forward to seeing where our space explorations lead in the future…  There will never be anything quite like the shuttle program.

Thanks for the memories, Discovery.