Space Shuttle Discovery Touches Down into Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum

April 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The Space Shuttle Discovery has earned a place of honor in the collection of national treasures preserved by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The longest-serving orbiter, Discovery flew 39 times from 1984 through 2011 — more missions than any of its sister ships — spending altogether 365 days in space. Discovery also flew every type of mission during the space shuttle era and has a record of distinctions. Discovery well represents the full scope of human spaceflight in the period 1981-2011.

*Satellite delivery and retrieval, Department of Defense, scientific, Hubble Space Telescope, Mir, and space station assembly, crew exchange, and resupply missions
*Three Hubble Space Telescope missions: deployment (1990) servicing (1997, 1999)
*First non-astronaut to fly on space shuttle, Charles Walker (1984)
*Flown aboard Discovery: Sen. Jake Garn (1985) and Sen. John Glenn (1998)
*Served as Return-to-Flight vehicle after Challenger and Columbia tragedies (1988,    2005)
*Flown by first African American commander, Frederick Gregory (1989)
*Piloted by first female spacecraft pilot, Eileen Collins (1995), and by Pamela Melroy on her first flight as pilot (2000)
*Flew 100th shuttle mission (2000)
*Flown by both women commanders, Eileen Collins (2005) and Pamela Melroy (2006)
*Made first visit to Mir, rendezvous without docking (1995)
*Made final docking visit to Mir space station (1998)
*Made first docking with International Space Station (1999)
*Delivered trusses, Harmony node, Kibo laboratory module, Robonaut2, Leonardo module, and tons of supplies to International Space Station (1999-2011)

The Embassy Suites Dulles Airport in Herndon, Virginia has created an
Air and Space Museum Package in honor of its newest neighbor -
The Space Shuttle Discovery  The Package Includes:

*Two Tickets to Air and Space IMAX Theatre
*Hotel shuttle to and from Air and Space Museum (Parking at Museum $15)
*Two Room Suite
*Free cooked to order breakfast daily
*Evening Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks
*Fitness Center
*24 hour business center

For more information about Embassy Suites Dulles Airport visit their website:
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/WASDAES-E...

To make reservations for the Air and Space Museum Package to see the Space Shuttle Discovery call : 703-464-0200  

Or go to:
http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/hotels/specials_det...&

Discover more about the Shuttle Discovery and the Air and Space Package below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCM3BU_p08k