Editing Space Shuttle Discovery (section)

{{Short description|Space Shuttle orbiter (1984–2011)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Space Shuttle ''Discovery''}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name              = ''Discovery''
| image             = STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery after undocking 3 (cropped).jpg
| image_alt         = Top view of a spaceplane in space.
| caption           = ''Discovery'' in orbit in 2011, during STS-133, the orbiter's final flight

| type              = [[Spaceplane]]
| class             = [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]
| serial            = OV-103
| eponym            = {{Ubl|[[Discovery (1602 ship)|''Discovery'' (1602)]]|{{HMS|Discovery|1774}}}}
| owner             = [[NASA]]
| manufacturer      = [[Rockwell International]]

| dimensions        = 
| dry_mass          = {{convert|78000|kg}}
| communciation     = 
| power             = 
| rocket            = [[Space Shuttle]]

| first_flight_date = {{Nowrap|August 30 – September 5, 1984}}
| first_flight      = [[STS-41-D]]
| last_flight_date  = February 24 – March 9, 2011
| last_flight       = [[STS-133]]
| flights           = 39
| time              = 8,783 hours
| travelled         = {{convert|238539663|km}} around [[Earth]]<ref name="NASAfacts">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/488540main_DISCOVERY_factsheet_10_2010.pdf|title=NASAfacts Discovery (OV-103)|author=NASA|date=October 2010|access-date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=October 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026125845/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/488540main_DISCOVERY_factsheet_10_2010.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| orbits            = 5,830 around Earth
| fate              = [[Space Shuttle retirement|Retired]]
| location          = {{Ubl|[[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]|[[Chantilly, Virginia|Chantilly]], Virginia}}
| previous          = ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]''
| next              = ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]''
}}
[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery at Udvar-Hazy Center.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]]]
[[File:Discovery rollout ceremony.jpg|thumb|''Discovery'' rollout ceremony in October 1983]]
[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery and Carrier 747 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.png|thumb|Discovery and SCA 905 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, November 6, 1983]]

'''Space Shuttle ''Discovery''''' ([[Orbiter Vehicle Designation]]: '''OV-103''') is a retired American [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]. The [[spaceplane]] was one of the [[Space Shuttle orbiter|orbiters]] from [[NASA]]'s [[Space Shuttle program]] and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built.<ref name="ov103">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html|title=Space Shuttle Overview: Discovery (OV-103)|access-date=November 6, 2007|publisher=[[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]]|year=2007|author=NASA|author-link=NASA|archive-date=November 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107032526/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Its first mission, [[STS-41-D]], flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft {{as of|lc=yes|2024|12}}.<ref name="Guiness most spaceflights">{{cite web |title=Most re-used spacecraft |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/75333-most-re-used-spacecraft#:~:text=The%20most%20re-used%20spacecraft%20is%20the%20Space%20Shuttle,between%2030%20August%201984%20and%209%20March%202011. |website=Guiness World Records |access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the [[Space Shuttle orbiter]], a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable [[solid rocket booster]]s. Nearly 25,000 [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system|heat-resistant tiles]] cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/15327-space-shuttle-discovery-10-cool-facts.html |title=10 Cool Facts About NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery &#124; Space Shuttle Retirement |date=April 18, 2012 |publisher=Space.com |access-date=August 30, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622193311/http://www.space.com/15327-space-shuttle-discovery-10-cool-facts.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Discovery'' became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' and ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scibuff.com/2011/02/24/discoverys-last-trip-to-space-begins/ |title=Discovery's last mission flight to space begun |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=March 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716014726/http://www.scibuff.com/2011/02/24/discoverys-last-trip-to-space-begins/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> After the Challenger and Columbia accidents, Discovery became the oldest surviving orbiter. It embarked on its final mission, [[STS-133]], on February 24, 2011, and touched down for the last time at [[Kennedy Space Center]] on March 9,<ref>{{cite web|title=Discovery's Final Touchdown A Success|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/2009363/discoverys_final_touchdown_a_success/|publisher=redOrbit.com|access-date=March 9, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820190639/http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/2009363/discoverys_final_touchdown_a_success|archive-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref> having spent a cumulative total of nearly a full year in space. ''Discovery'' performed both research and [[International Space Station]] (ISS) assembly missions, and also carried the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] into orbit among other satellites. 
 
''Discovery'' was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' and then ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]''. The shuttle is now on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] [[National Air and Space Museum]].