21. Space Shuttle Discovery

I have been looking forward to writing this blog on Space Shuttle Discovery for a long time. I find the space shuttles exciting to think about, especially this particular one...

The space shuttle Discovery was the first space shuttle to do a successful mission and come home safely. Discovery was retired on March 9 2011 (9/3/2011) and placed at the national space air museum in California, USA.

All space shuttles had their problems from time to time. One time, a woodpecker came and delayed a launch of discovery. It did it by pecking 73 holes in the fuel tank.

This spacecraft is so big that it took 4 entire years to build!!!!! Also discovery is super dirty because it had a lot of flights, and one of these was the most important job of all, delivering the hubble space telescope into orbit around the planet.

Space shuttle discovery had the most missions of all the space shuttles. Most of them were to build the international space station. Discovery's wingspan was 24 metres and its height was as big as a 10 story building!

Fast facts: Space Shuttle Discovery

1. space shuttle discovery's longest trip was just over a YEAR!!!!!!!!!

2. it's first mission was on the 30th of august 1984

3. it retired in 2011

4. it earned the nickname " return to flight orbiter"

5. discovery returned NASA from the space shuttle tragedies

Discovery was also known for being the 2nd shuttle to go to space and the 3rd space shuttle to be built after Columbia and Challenger. It was famous for being the most used shuttle too!

I hope you liked this blog. Until next time, give me space!

Henry