The final journey of a reusable icon: Discovery moves to the pad

Space · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After a 3.4-mile trek atop a massive crawler-transporter, the Space Shuttle Discovery has reached Launch Pad 39A. This isn't just another mission; it marks the beginning of the end for a spacecraft that redefined how we access the stars.

Between January 31 and February 1, the Space Shuttle Discovery transitioned from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This movement was part of the preparations for the STS-133 mission, which is scheduled to launch on February 24. This specific mission to the International Space Station is designated as the final scheduled flight for Discovery before its retirement. The shuttle's slow progress across the Florida landscape was facilitated by a giant crawler-transporter. This transit occurred at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The orbiter itself is a marvel of engineering, designed to launch like a rocket, maneuver in Earth orbit, and land like an airplane. Roughly comparable in size and weight to a DC-9 aircraft, the vehicle features a 78-foot wingspan and a 122-foot length. Its complex architecture includes a pressurized crew module that can accommodate up to seven members, though the flight deck specifically seats four. The vehicle's structure includes a 60-foot payload bay with a 15-foot diameter. Its height on the runway is approximately 57 feet.

The internal mechanics of the orbiter are equally intricate. The flight deck contains over 2,020 separate displays and controls, split between orbiter operations on the left and payload handling on the right. Below the flight deck, the middeck provides essential life support, including four crew sleep stations, waste management, and even a personal hygiene station. For extravehicular activities, or EVAs, an airlock provides the necessary interface for astronauts to transition into the vacuum of space. The crew module's pressurized volume reaches 65.8 cubic meters. Within the middeck, the shuttle also houses lithium hydroxide canisters and a dining table.

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