Ferry Missions

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is lifted off the ground into the mate-demate device. Operations are under way to positi More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane on the mate-demate device lifts space shuttle Discovery from the ground. Operations are under way to pos More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The “pathfinder” aircraft for space shuttle Discovery’s ferry flight taxis onto the apron of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The NASA C-9 aircra More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a worker guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft into position under space shuttle Discovery suspended in the mate-d More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers secure a sling to space shuttle Discovery in order to lift it onto the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery and its companion T-38 jet fly over Space Launch Complex-17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after taking off from NAS More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Daybreak at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida finds preparations under way to lift space shuttle Discovery onto the back of the Shuttle Carri More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers attach space shuttle Discovery to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in the mate-demate device. The device, More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home departs from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7 a.m. EDT. The duo are heading south to fly over More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is suspended 60 feet off the ground inside the mate-demate device in preparation for the More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft prepares to touch down on the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the sun comes up over the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is suspended above the ground at the mate-demate device during ope More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the early morning hours at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, with space shuttle Discovery secured atop, completes t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The MDD is a large gantry-like steel str More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is raised into the mate-demate device during operations to place it on top of a Shuttle More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to tow a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to the mate-demate device for mating with space shuttle Discov More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the sun rises, preparations are under way for the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying space shuttle Discovery to back out of the Shuttle Landing Facility's mate-demate device at NASA’s K More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the early morning hours at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, with space shuttle Discovery secured atop, taxies down More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home receives permission for a 7-a.m. takeoff from the control tower at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the early morning hours at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, with space shuttle Discovery secured atop, takes off f More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Before daybreak at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery hovers above the ground at the mate-demate device. Operations are under More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, is in position in the mate/demate device so that space shuttle Discovery can be l More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A T-38 jet taxis onto the apron of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The jet is at Kennedy to support space shuttle Discovery’s ferry flight. More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft moves into position under space shuttle Discovery suspended 60 feet off the ground More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:3 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is suspended 60 feet off the ground inside the mate-demate device in preparation for the More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft parks near the mate/demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The newly arrived Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is framed by a grappling fixture on the mate-demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The air More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the runway of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT to More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft makes contact with the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft comes to a stop on the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrive More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft parks near the mate/demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT to prepare for s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA pilot Jeff Moultrie guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft toward the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, kno More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT to prepare More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft glides down the runway of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the mate/demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT to prepare More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft coasts down the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft glides down the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA pilot Jeff Moultrie guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft along the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, know More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA pilot Jeff Moultrie guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to a picture-perfect touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with NASA co-pilot Bi More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:3 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA pilot Jeff Moultrie guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft onto the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The newly arrived Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is seen through the platforms of the mate-demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircra More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft glides onto the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5: More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – This overhead view shows Shuttle Carrier Aircraft parked on the apron of the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the pilots of the newly arrived Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to disembark. The airc More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft approaches the mate/demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA pilot Jeff Moultrie guides the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft along the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft glides down the runway of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aircraft, known as an SCA, arrived at 5:35 p.m. EDT t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a maintenance technician from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California checks controls inside NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California check equipment inside NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified 747 jet, or SCA, has arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, after a 5-hour flight from Edward More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California check equipment inside NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California check attach points on top of NA More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California and Kennedy check NASA’s Shuttle More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Painted graphics line the side of NASA 905 depicting the various ferry flights the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft has supported during the Space Shuttle Program. The names of the pilots and fli More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified 747 jet, or SCA, has arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, after a 5-hour flight from Edward More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified 747 jet, or SCA, has arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, after a 5-hour flight from Edward More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Painted graphics line the side of NASA 905 depicting the various ferry flights the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft has supported during the Space Shuttle Program, including the tests using the s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, maintenance technicians from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California and Kennedy check NASA’s Shuttle More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an interior view of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified 747 jet, or SCA, is seen after arriving at the Shuttle Landing Facility from Edward More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Painted graphics line the side of NASA 905 depicting the various ferry flights the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft has supported during the Space Shuttle Program, including the tests using the s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery is towed into position next to the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery rolls into position beside the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has been More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery rolls into position beneath the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has bee More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery rolls into position beside the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has been More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way at the the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to lift space shuttle Discovery atop a Shuttle More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, operations are under way at the mate-demate device to lift space shuttle Discovery on top of a Shuttle Carrier A More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a sling is attached to space shuttle Discovery during preparations to lift it onto the top of a Shuttle Carrier More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to attach a sling to space shuttle Discovery to lift it onto the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircra More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, operations are under way to lift space shuttle Discovery onto the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in the background wit More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery rolls past a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, toward the mate-demate device, or MDD. A More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery’s front wheels hover above the ground inside the mate-demate device. Operations are und More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery nears the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has been installed over its three rep More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery is towed into position beside the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The MDD is a large g More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, operations are under way at the mate-demate device to lift space shuttle Discovery on top of a Shuttle Carrier A More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The MDD is a large gantry-like steel struc More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to lift space shuttle Discovery with the mate-demate device. More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery rolls past a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, toward the mate-demate device, or MDD. A More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery approaches the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A tail cone has been installed over its thre More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts space shuttle Discovery off the ground inside the mate-demate device. Operations are under way to More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space Shuttle Discovery’s move from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, is complete as the sun rises over NASA’s Kenn More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery is towed into position at the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The MDD is a large gantry More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, media representatives interview Stephanie Stilson, center, the NASA flow director for Orbiter Transition and Ret More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the team that will be lifting space shuttle Discovery receives a briefing under the mate-demate device before op More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery arrives at the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the SLF, Discovery will be secured on More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a sling is attached to space shuttle Discovery to lift it onto the top of this Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with the More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Painted graphics line the side of NASA 905 depicting the various ferry flights the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft has supported during the Space Shuttle Program, including the tests using the s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery rolls past a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This SCA, designated NASA 905, is a B More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers secure a sling to space shuttle Discovery to enable the mate-demate device to lift it onto a Shuttle Car More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers secure a sling to space shuttle Discovery to enable the mate-demate device to lift it onto a Shuttle Car More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers secure a sling to space shuttle Discovery for its lift onto the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, is readied for mating with the space shuttle Discovery at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This SCA, More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery rolls past a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This SCA, designated NASA 90 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane attached to the sling supporting space shuttle Discovery lifts the shuttle inside the mate-demate device More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery is towed into position at the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the SLF, Disc More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space Shuttle Discovery’s move from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the mate-demate device, or MDD, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, is complete as the sun rises over NASA’s Kenn More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers disconnect the tow vehicle from space shuttle Discovery before it is lifted onto the top of a Shuttle Ca More