The Final Launch of Discovery

The Space Shuttle Discovery flew every kind of mission a Space Shuttle could fly in it's almost 30 years of service.
Discovery was the third Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle to fly in space. It entered service in 1984 and flew on 39 Earth-orbital missions, spent a total of 365 days in space, and traveled almost 150 million miles. This NASA video (with captions added by the Museum) captures its final launch on the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station in 2011.
Video courtesy of NASA-TV.

[leokimvideo]

I get chills every time when I hear the call 'you are go at throttle up'. The Shuttle was an amazing piece of reusable space hardware, I witnessed launch 26 and i'll never forget the sound of the Shuttle rapidly rising into the sky.

[pk]

I'm always in awe when i watch this. The shuttle program was and will always be one of the most amazing achievements of humankind!

[Duncan]

Watching the main engines come alive at around the 3:40 mark....never gets old....just an amazing feat of human engineering

[nazimL]

I could watch this thing 1000 times and it never ever gets old. What a beauty….incredible brains, incredible entreprise.

[hammertyme]

I worked for NASA for 40yrs. 26 of which was on the shuttle program. What an amazing vehicle

[kenpalmer]

God bless the entire space shuttle crews and personnel who took part in this magnificent program! They made all of America very proud! This is an era of history which will never be forgotten!

[johnpolizzio]

This never gets old. Amazing orbital aircraft!

[petrithysaj]

For all the scientists that came before us, for Galilei, Copernicus, Newton. My eyes always fill with tears when I see this video. I am simply amazed at the human brain power behind this.

[PlushyCascade]

I was standing off to the right side of the mission timer pictured in those shots. I'll never forget watching Discovery launch.

[rpwms]

“Discovery making one last reach for the stars” chills

[erice]

Had the privilege to watch this one in person from the Saturn V center. Most memorable occasion!

[Papershields]

There’s just nothing like the shuttle. Just the greatest vehicle a man has ever produced. I feel so blessed to have seen it flying over DC and arriving at Udvar Hazy.

[MikeFossum-vt]

I was blessed to ride this beast to orbit twice on STS-121 and STS-124! Great video -- I can feel the adrenalin pumping just like the day of launch!!

[JohnHaigney]

That boom when the main engines start and the secondary boom of the SLB's makes me proud to be a human being.

[gabrieldally]

I lived in Central Florida at the time and I had the honor of watching this in person. Truly something I will never forget

[LeeKL-ey]

I watched that launch in person. Was amazed at how bright the solids are and just how quickly it moves.

[Gehren]

Awsome footage of an historic last flight of the Space Shuttle "Discovery".

[Steelers]

Currently starting at Discovery while watching this at the Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA!

[davecrupel]

This audio is the most realistic audio I've ever heard.
This is pretty much exactly what they sound like in person.
Roaring crackling power, which gradually fades into deeper, less detailed extremely low pitches booming. Which gets quieter and quieter as the rocket both gets further from you, and when it breaks the sound barrier, you pretty much stop hearing it entirely. Though you can likely see it well after that point.

[jermainejohnson]

3:40 is pure beauty… I can’t imagine the temperature there