It was a significant moment, even in a place like Washington D.C. All eyes were turned to the sky as crowds gathered atop buildings, on street corners, and on the steps of Congress, to see the U.S. space shuttle Discovery on its last flight, Tuesday, April 17.
There were shouts of “There it is!” and “OMG, look at that!”—and then a respectful hush as the historic carrier graced the city, sweeping right at the Washington Monument and continuing up the National Mall, before gliding over the U.S. Capitol and disappearing behind the nation’s Supreme Court.
Flying at around 1,500 feet and attached to the specially modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), which has been stripped of any superfluous weight but will still burn through twice the fuel with the shuttle in tow, Discovery completed three circuits of the nation’s capital before touching down for the last time at Dulles International Airport, 11:05 a.m.
