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Discovery
Part of Shuttle

Shuttle Landing

Shuttle Landing
Credit: NASA

American manned spaceplane. merican manned spaceplane.

AKA: OV-103. Status: Operational 1984. First Launch: 1984-08-30. Last Launch: 2011-02-24. Number: 39 . Payload: 24,990 kg (55,090 lb). Thrust: 53.37 kN (11,997 lbf). Gross mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Unfuelled mass: 104,472 kg (230,321 lb). Specific impulse: 316 s. Height: 37.24 m (122.17 ft). Span: 23.79 m (78.05 ft).

Discovery, the third orbiter to become operational at Kennedy Space Center, was named after one of two ships used by the British explorer James Cook in the 1770s during voyages in the South Pacific that led to the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. Empty Weight was 68,670 kg at rollout and 77,550 kg with main engines installed.

Discovery benefited from lessons learned in the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. At rollout, its weight was some 3115 kg less than Columbia. Two orbiters, Challenger and Discovery, were modified at KSC to enable them to carry the Centaur upper stage in the payload bay. These modifications included extra plumbing to load and vent Centaur's cryogenic Lox/LH2 propellants (other IUS/PAM upper stages used solid propellants), and controls on the aft flight deck for loading and monitoring the Centaur stage. No Centaur flight was ever flown. After the loss of Challenger it was decided that the risk was too great to launch a shuttle with a fueled Centaur upper stage in the payload bay.

Construction Milestones

01/29/79 Contract Award
06/28/76 Start structural assembly of Crew Module
11/10/80 Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
04/30/82 Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
09/03/82 Start of Final Assembly
08/12/83 Completed Final Assembly 10/16/83 Rollout from Palmdale
11/05/83 Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards
11/09/83 Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
06/02/84 Flight Readiness Firing
08/30/84 First Flight (41-D)

Discovery underwent its first major OMDP-1 overhaul in February 1992. A complete structural inspection was conducted, and 78 modifications were made, including installation of a drag chute. IMDP-2 was conducted from September 1995 to June 1996, and included installation of the ISS airlock/docking system, improved payload bay lighting, 96 major and 87 deferred change and maintenance items.

Crew Size: 8. Orbital Storage: 30 days. Habitable Volume: 71.50 m3. Structure: 30,374 kg (66,963 lb). Heat shield: 12,110 kg (26,690 lb). Reaction Control System: 2,793 kg (6,157 lb). Recovery Equipment: 4,186 kg (9,228 lb). Navigation Equipment: 1,960 kg (4,320 lb). Electrical Equipment: 6,961 kg (15,346 lb). Communications Systems: 674 kg (1,485 lb). Crew Seats and Provisions: 745 kg (1,642 lb). Miscellaneous Contingency: 2,425 kg (5,346 lb). Environmental Control System: 2,487 kg (5,482 lb). RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 38 x 387 N. RCS Fine No x Thrust: 6 x 107 N. RCS specific impulse: 289 sec. RCS total impulse: 9,355 kgf-sec. Spacecraft delta v: 700 m/s (2,290 ft/sec). Electric System: 3,100.00 kWh. Electric System: 14.00 average kW.



Family: Spaceplane, US Rocketplanes. Country: USA. Spacecraft: ISS, Mir. Flights: STS-41-D, STS-51-A, STS-51-C, STS-51-D, STS-51-G, STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-29, STS-33, STS-31, STS-41, STS-39, STS-48, STS-42, STS-53, STS-56, STS-51, STS-60, STS-64, STS-63, STS-70, STS-82, STS-85, STS-91, STS-95, STS-96, STS-103, STS-92, STS-102, STS-105, STS-114, STS-121, STS-116, STS-120, STS-124, STS-119, STS-128, STS-131, STS-133. Launch Vehicles: Space Shuttle. Propellants: N2O4/MMH. Projects: STS. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC39A, Cape Canaveral LC39B. Agency: NASA, North American. Bibliography: 15, 2, 276, 296, 3134, 33, 44, 552, 554, 6, 66, 7, 8.
Photo Gallery

Shuttle OrbiterShuttle Orbiter
Shuttle Orbiter side view
Credit: © Mark Wade


Shuttle OrbiterShuttle Orbiter
Shuttle Orbiter 2 view
Credit: © Mark Wade


STS-41-DSTS-41-D
View of launch of orbiter Discovery on 41-D mission
Credit: NASA


STS-41-DSTS-41-D
View of foot restraint strayed from Discovery
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ASTS-51-A
Aerial view of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ASTS-51-A
View of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ASTS-51-A
Astronaut Dale Gardner tethered to Discovery's starboard side.
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ASTS-51-A
Syncom IV-1 satellite leaving Discovery's payload bay
Credit: NASA


STS-51-CSTS-51-C
Launch of Shuttle Discovery and the STS 51-C mission
Credit: NASA


STS-51-CSTS-51-C
Landing of the shuttle Discovery at end of STS 51-C mission
Credit: NASA


STS-51-DSTS-51-D
End effector of the Discovery's RMS with tools moves toward Syncom-IV
Credit: NASA


STS-51-DSTS-51-D
End effector of the Discovery's RMS with tools attached
Credit: NASA


STS-51-GSTS-51-G
Arabsat communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ISTS-51-I
Aerial view of the launch of Shuttle Discovery STS 51-I mission
Credit: NASA


STS-51-ISTS-51-I
Astronaut William Fisher anchored to foot restraint on Discovery
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Credit: NASA


STS-26STS-26
STS-26 MS Nelson adjusts ADSF power cable on Discovery's middeck
Credit: NASA


STS-29STS-29
STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, external tank (ET) separation
Credit: NASA


STS-29STS-29
STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, crew on flight deck prepares for re-entry
Credit: NASA


STS-29STS-29
STS-29 IUS with TDRS-D after deployment from Discovery, OV-103
Credit: NASA


STS-31STS-31
STS-31 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA


STS-33STS-33
STS-33 Discovery, OV-103, early morning lift-off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA


STS-33STS-33
Aerial view of STS-33 Discovery, OV-103, lifting off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA


STS-33STS-33
STS-33 MS Musgrave, wearing headset, poses on Discovery's, OV-103's, middeck
Credit: NASA


STS-33STS-33
STS-33 MS Thornton on Discovery's, OV-103's, aft flight deck
Credit: NASA


STS-41STS-41
STS-41 Discovery, OV-103, lifts off from KSC Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39
Credit: NASA



1979 August 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1979 August 27 - .
1984 June 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1984 August - .
1984 August 30 - . 12:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1984 November 8 - . 12:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1984 November 12 - . 13:25 GMT - .
1984 November 14 - .
1985 January 24 - . 19:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 April - .
1985 April 12 - . 13:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 April 16 - .
1985 June 17 - . 11:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 August 27 - . 10:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 August 31 - .
1985 September 1 - .
1986 July - .
1986 September - .
1986 September - .
1988 September 29 - . 15:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1989 March 13 - . 14:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1989 November 23 - . 00:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1990 April 24 - . 12:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1990 October 6 - . 11:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1991 April 28 - . 11:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1991 September 12 - . 23:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 January 22 - . 14:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 February 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 December 2 - . 13:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1993 April 8 - . 05:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1993 August 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1993 September 12 - . 11:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1993 September 16 - . 08:40 GMT - .
1994 February 3 - . 12:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1994 September 9 - . 22:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1994 September 16 - . 14:42 GMT - .
1995 February 3 - . 05:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1995 February 9 - . 11:56 GMT - .
1995 July 13 - . 13:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1995 September 27 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 February 11 - . 08:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 February 14 - . 04:34 GMT - .
1997 February 15 - . 03:25 GMT - .
1997 February 16 - . 02:53 GMT - .
1997 February 17 - . 03:45 GMT - .
1997 February 18 - . 03:15 GMT - .
1997 August 7 - . 14:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1998 June 2 - . 22:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1998 October 29 - . 19:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1999 May 27 - . 10:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1999 December 20 - . 00:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1999 December 23 - . 18:54 GMT - .
1999 December 24 - . 19:06 GMT - .
1999 December 25 - . 19:17 GMT - .
2000 October 11 - . 23:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2001 March 8 - . 11:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2001 August 10 - . 21:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2002 March 4 - . 06:37 GMT - .
2002 March 5 - . 06:40 GMT - .
2002 March 7 - . 09:00 GMT - .
2002 March 8 - . 08:46 GMT - .
Mid-2004 - .
June 2005 - .
2005 July 26 - . 14:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Late Spring 2006 - .
2006 July 4 - . 18:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Late 2007 - .
2006 December 10 - . 01:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Spring 2007 - .
2007 October 23 - . 15:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2008 May 31 - . 21:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2009 March 15 - . 23:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2009 August 29 - . 04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2010 April 5 - . 10:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2011 February 24 - . 21:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.

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