Retirement Activities

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana, second from right, joins space shuttle support personnel in a ceremony following More

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. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United Space Alliance senior aerospace technician and spacecraft operator Charles J. Beason toggles the switche More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mike Williams, a thermal protection system technician with United Space Alliance, arranges weights atop a freshly installed section of tile on the right wing of space shuttle Endeavour at More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Media snap photos as space shuttle Discovery, mounted to a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, slowly rolls along the runway of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florid More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, touched down at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida at 5:05 p.m. EDT to prepare for shuttle Endeavour’s ferry flight to t 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. – Space shuttle Discovery sports two replica shuttle main engines (RSMEs) in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Three RSMEs will be installed on Disco 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. – Space shuttle Discovery, mounted to a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, takes off from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 in Florida at 7 a.m. EDT and makes a 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. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the flight deck of space shuttle Endeavour is illuminated during Space Shuttle Program transition and retiremen 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. – Jeremy Schwarz, left, quality assurance technician, and Mike Williams, right, a thermal protection system technician, both with United Space Alliance, prepare the right wing of space shut 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. – A replica shuttle main engine (RSME) is poised for installation on space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The RSME is one o 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. – Space Shuttle Discovery’s move from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, is complete as the sun comes up over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A t 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. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the camera captures a section of space shuttle Atlantis' flight deck. Preparations are under way for the shuttl 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. – Space shuttle Discovery, mounted to a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, takes off from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility runway 15 in Florida at 7 a.m. EDT. The duo is 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. – This is an aerial view of the long Shuttle Landing Facility SLF runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida that space shuttle Discovery, bolted to the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircr More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Discovery, mounted to a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, rises just after 7 a.m. EDT from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The duo is beginni More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mike Williams, a thermal protection system technician with United Space Alliance, puts the finishing touche More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jeremy Schwarz, left, quality assurance technician, and Mike Williams, right, a thermal protection system technician, both with United Space Alliance, apply adhesive to space shuttle Ende More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mike Williams, a thermal protection system technician with United Space Alliance, crouches on space shuttle More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mike Williams, a thermal protection system technician with United Space Alliance, applies adhesive to the r More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mike Williams, left, a thermal protection system technician, and Jeremy Schwarz, right, quality assurance technician, both with United Space Alliance, set weights atop a newly installed s 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. – A replica shuttle main engine (RSME) arrives at Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where it will be installed on space shuttle Discovery. The RSME wa More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A completed replica shuttle main engine (RSME) awaits transport from the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne engine shop at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A replica shuttle main engine (RSME) rolls out of the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne engine shop at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida toward Orbiter Processing Facility-1 where it will b More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A replica shuttle main engine (RSME) arrives in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where it will be installed on space shuttle Discovery. The RSME wa More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparations are under way to install a replica shuttle main engine (RSME) on space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The RS More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers position a replica shuttle main engine (RSME) into the engine well of space shuttle Discovery with the More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida move a replica shuttle main engine (RSME) toward space shuttle Discovery with the aid of a Hyster forkli More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a replica shuttle main engine (RSME) slides into the engine well of space shuttle Discovery with the aid of a H More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the third and final replica shuttle main engine (RSME) slides into an engine well of space shuttle Discovery wi More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the "vehicle powered" sign is turned off following the final power down of space shuttle Discovery during Space More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, one of space shuttle Discovery’s payload bay doors is lifted shut with the aid of yellow-painted strongbacks, h More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the "vehicle powered" sign is lit as preparations are made to power down space shuttle Discovery for the last t More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery’s payload bay is glimpsed for the final time as its doors swing shut with the aid of ye More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, yellow-painted strongbacks complete the task of closing space shuttle Discovery’s payload bay doors for the fin More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the camera captures a last look at space shuttle Discovery’s payload bay before its payload bay doors are close More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle support personnel prepare to power down space shuttle Discovery for the last time during Space Sh More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Robert Cabana (center) is on hand for the final power down of space shuttle Discovery during Sp More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the cockpit of space shuttle Discovery is brightly lit for the last time as preparations are made for the shutt More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to power down Atlantis for the final time during Space Shuttle Program transition an More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a space shuttle technician reads data displayed on space shuttle Atlantis' glass cockpit during preparations to More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the camera captures a section of space shuttle Atlantis' flight deck. Preparations are under way for the shuttl More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a plethora of switches fills the control panel on the flight deck of space shuttle Atlantis. The flight deck is More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is seen from the airlock on the mid-deck. Preparations to power down the s More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the flight deck of space shuttle Atlantis is illuminated one last time during preparations to power down Atlant More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a space shuttle technician monitors data displayed on space shuttle Atlantis' glass cockpit during preparations More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a space shuttle technician monitors data displayed on space shuttle Atlantis' glass cockpit during preparations More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the flight deck of space shuttle Atlantis is illuminated one last time during preparations to power down the sh More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the flight deck of space shuttle Atlantis is brightly lit one last time as preparations are made for the shuttl More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a view of space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is captured through the window of the flight deck. In the payload More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the camera captures a section of space shuttle Atlantis' flight deck. Preparations are under way for the shuttl More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Members of the news media interview Walter "Buddy" McKenzie, right, manager of technical operations with United Space Alliance, in front of space shuttle Endeavour's aft engine compartme More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Walter "Buddy" McKenzie, manager of technical operations with United Space Alliance, gestures toward space shuttle Endeavour's aft engine compartment during a media interview inside Orbi More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the cramped confines of space shuttle Endeavour's crew module, photographers document the appearance of the flight deck during a media event at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Flor More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Positioned on a platform inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media photograph space shuttle Endeavour's open payload bay. More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Members of the news media peer down into space shuttle Endeavour's open payload bay inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ongoing transition More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Standing beneath the midbody of space shuttle Endeavour, members of the news media interview Stephanie Stilson, NASA flow director for the shuttles' transition and retirement, inside Orb More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Standing beneath the midbody of space shuttle Endeavour, members of the news media interview Stephanie Stilson, NASA flow director for the shuttles' transition and retirement, inside Orb More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jeremy Schwarz, left, quality assurance technician, and Mike Williams, right, a thermal protection system technician, both with United Space Alliance, affix a section of tile to the right More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to power up space shuttle Endeavour during Space Shuttle Program transition and reti More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the flight deck of space shuttle Endeavour is illuminated during Space Shuttle Program transition and retiremen 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