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Space Shuttle Discovery Ends STS-133 Mission at KSC

Space Shuttle Discovery's Final Landing.

Space shuttle Discovery touched down on Runway 15 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) just before noon today, completing the 13-day STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at 11:57:17 a.m., followed by nose gear touchdown at 11:57:28, and wheelstop at 11:58:14 a.m.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, and Mission Specialists Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt, Alvin Drew and Steve Bowen delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the orbiting outpost.

STS-133 was the 39th and final flight for Discovery, which has spent 365 days in space, orbited Earth 5,830 times and traveled 148,221,675 miles.

Discovery arrives on pad for the last time.

It’s still a beautiful sight to see.

Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery Pad for last time. (KSC-2010-4736)

Space shuttle Discovery was secured on Launch Pad 39A at 1:49 a.m. The shuttle’s trek, known as rollout, from KSC’s Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad began yesterday at 7:23 p.m., and took about six hours to complete. About 1,200 employees, and their families and friends, attended the move until the shuttle, its external fuel tank, twin solid rocket boosters, mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter were no longer visible in the bright xenon lights.

Discovery is set to carry the Permanent Multipurpose Module packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, to the International Space Station during the STS-133 mission. Launch is targeted for Monday, Nov. 1, at 4:40 p.m.

Rollout sets the stage for the STS-133 crew to practice countdown and launch procedures during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test in mid-October.

For up-to-date information about processing taking place at KSC, go to www.nasa.gov/shuttle. For photos of the milestone move, visit KSC’s Media Gallery.