Colleen Kelleher, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – History will be made Tuesday as NASA’s oldest and most-traveled shuttle heads from the Kennedy Space Center to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center.
Aboard a modified jumbo jet, Discovery made its final takeoff.
Nearly 2,000 people – former shuttle workers, VIPs, tourists and journalists – gathered along the old shuttle landing strip to see Discovery off. A cheer went up as the plane taxied down the runway and soared into a clear sky.
The jet headed south over the beaches of Cape Canaveral before turning north. As it nears D.C., Discovery will fly approximately 1,500 feet above various parts of the D.C. metropolitan area. It will be seen over the monuments in the nation’s capital.
Check out this gallery from WTOP listeners and readers who saw over the D.C. metro area the shuttle themselves.
The exact route and timing of the flight depend on weather and operational constraints.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority reports the shuttle is running about 30 minutes ahead of schedule. It was expected in the D.C. metro area between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
NASA TV was providing coverage of the Shuttle Discovery’s flight until noon. You can watch NASA TV below.
Streaming by Ustream
WTOP’s Kristi King is reporting live all morning from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, Va. Kristi will tweet from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. You also can follow NASA on Twitter @NASA.
WTOP would love to see your photos of the shuttle as it comes into the area. Tweet them using #wtopshuttle.
There are plenty of viewing spots around the area. The shuttle is expected to fly low over the region. Good viewing spots include along the Potomac River and at the Udvar-Hazy Center.
The shuttle will land at Dulles International Airport, but the impact to airport travel at Dulles is expected to be minimal.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano, who has covered more than 65 shuttle launches, reports Discovery was the shuttle program’s shining star.
The public gets the opportunity to see the shuttle up close at the Udvar-Hazy Center starting Friday.
Related Content:
- Discovery’s ‘bittersweet’ retirement isn’t the end for U.S. in space
- Departure day for Discovery
- Best spots to see Discovery
- Discovery was the pride and joy of space program
- Shuttle’s arrival shouldn’t impact airport travel
- Shuttle Discovery goes on display Friday
- Photo Gallery: Space Shuttle Discovery
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
