The final flight of a shuttle that defined an era

Space · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Space Shuttle Discovery’s final mission was more than a retirement tour. It was a high-stakes engineering feat that secured the International Space Station's future. While the crew celebrated a flawless 13-day journey, NASA managers were simultaneously grappling with structural integrity issues that threatened the entire program's legacy.

On February 24, 2011, the Space Shuttle Discovery launched on its 39th and final mission, STS-133. The primary objective was to attach the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the International Space Station and deliver the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 4. The crew, led by Commander Steve Lindsey, spent over 12 days in orbit, completing two spacewalks and outfitting the laboratory for continued research. The shuttle traveled approximately 5.3 million miles before landing at Kennedy Space Center on March 9, 2011.

However, the mission was shadowed by significant technical hurdles. NASA representatives spotted fractures within the shuttle's outer tank on a pair of 21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets termed stringers while in transit. These structural concerns were serious enough to require the Space Shuttle Program Requirements Control Board to review ongoing engineering evaluations and repairs. The situation was critical enough that the mission's progress was closely monitored by NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations, Bill Gerstenmaier, and the Space Shuttle Program Manager, John Shannon.

The mission serves as a poignant transition point in space exploration. While the crew celebrated the completion of Discovery's roster of accomplishments, the agency faced the reality of a retiring fleet. Gerstenmaier noted that while the work was essential for the station's residents, the shuttle's legacy was intended to pave the way for the future. Today, Discovery resides at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, marking the end of a program that balanced groundbreaking science with complex mechanical maintenance.

The technical challenges faced during STS-133 highlight the inherent risks of reusable spacecraft. The need for repairs on the external tank's stringers underscores the constant cycle of maintenance required to keep the shuttle flight-worthy. By successfully completing the PMM installation despite these issues, the crew ensured that the International Space Station remained a viable platform for long-term human research.

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