# Discovery

> American Space Shuttle orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q54384](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54384)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Discovery)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/discovery

## Summary
Discovery (OV-103) is an American Space Shuttle orbiter, one of the reusable spacecraft that formed part of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Over its 27-year operational history, it flew 39 missions, more than any other orbiter, traveling over 238 million kilometers. After its final flight in 2011, Discovery was decommissioned and is now a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.

## Key Facts
- **Designation:** OV-103 (Orbital Vehicle 103)
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Maiden Flight:** August 30, 1984 (Mission STS-41-D)
- **Final Flight:** February 24, 2011 (Mission STS-133)
- **Total Missions:** 39
- **Total Orbits Completed:** 5,830
- **Total Distance Traveled:** 238,539,663 kilometers
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International
- **Current Location:** Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia
- **Dimensions:** 38.03 m (length) x 24.314 m (wingspan) x 17.768 m (height)

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the Space Shuttle Discovery now?
A: The Space Shuttle Discovery is on permanent display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, in Chantilly, Virginia. It was officially transferred to the museum in April 2012.

### Q: How many missions did Discovery fly?
A: Discovery flew 39 space missions for NASA, the most of any orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet. Its service spanned from its first flight in 1984 to its last in 2011.

### Q: What was Discovery named after?
A: Discovery was named after HMS Discovery, a British sailing vessel used in exploration.

## Why It Matters
Discovery was the workhorse of NASA's Space Shuttle fleet, embodying the era of reusable spacecraft and playing a pivotal role in space exploration for nearly three decades. Its record 39 missions demonstrate the success and longevity of the orbiter design. Throughout its career, Discovery was instrumental in deploying critical scientific hardware, including 31 artificial satellites, and was a key vehicle for the construction and servicing of the International Space Station (ISS), docking with it 13 times.

The orbiter's missions advanced our understanding of space and facilitated international cooperation, notably through its dockings with the Russian Mir space station. After its retirement, Discovery's significance shifted from an active exploration vehicle to a historical artifact. As a centerpiece of the Smithsonian's collection, it serves as a tangible link to the Space Shuttle program, educating and inspiring future generations about a crucial chapter in the history of human spaceflight.

## Notable For
- **Mission Leader:** Completed 39 space missions, more than any other Space Shuttle orbiter.
- **Construction of the ISS:** Played a crucial role in the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station, completing 13 docking missions to the station.
- **Satellite Deployment:** Deployed 31 artificial satellites during its operational lifetime.
- **Endurance and Distance:** Spent a cumulative total of 31,532,719 seconds (nearly 365 days) in space and traveled a total distance of 238,539,663 kilometers.
- **International Cooperation:** Performed two docking missions with the Russian Mir space station, fostering collaboration in space exploration.

## Body
### ### Design and Construction
Discovery was manufactured by Rockwell International as part of a contract awarded by NASA on January 29, 1979. Its construction took place at Air Force Plant 42 from August 27, 1979, to February 25, 1983. The orbiter, designated with the serial number OV-103, officially rolled out on October 16, 1983, and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center on November 9, 1983.

### ### Specifications
- **Length:** 38.03 meters
- **Wingspan:** 24.314 meters
- **Height:** 17.768 meters
- **Mass:**
    - At rollout: 68,682.5 kg
    - With RS-25 engines: 77,550 kg
    - As an exhibit: 73,176.5 kg

### ### Operational History
Operated by NASA, Discovery was a core component of the Space Shuttle program.
- **First Flight:** STS-41-D, launched on August 30, 1984.
- **Last Flight:** STS-133, launched on February 24, 2011.
- **Career Totals:**
    - **Missions:** 39
    - **Orbits Completed:** 5,830
    - **Total Flight Duration:** 31,532,719 seconds
    - **Total Distance Traveled:** 238,539,663 km

### ### Retirement and Exhibition
Following its final mission, Discovery was decommissioned. On April 20, 2012, ownership was officially transferred from NASA to the Smithsonian Institution. The orbiter became a permanent exhibit at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, with the exhibition beginning on April 19, 2012. The exhibit is located at coordinates 38.91137° N, -77.44522° W.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Discovery",
  "description": "Discovery (OV-103) is an American Space Shuttle orbiter that flew 39 missions for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program.",
  "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48183",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Discovery"
  ],
  "additionalType": "http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q185573",
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/STS-133_Space_Shuttle_Discovery_after_undocking_3_(cropped).jpg",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Rockwell International"
  },
  "serialNumber": "OV-103"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.universetoday.com/94727/discovery-enters-eternal-smithsonian-home-as-historic-relic/)
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566250main_SHUTTLE%20ERA%20FACTS_040412.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-jul-05-la-fi-shuttle-legacy-20110705-story.html)
4. [Source](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47098570)
5. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
6. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2229.html)
7. [Source](https://www.si.edu/object/orbiter-space-shuttle-ov-103-discovery:nasm_A20120325000)
8. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/birthplace.html)
11. [Source](http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/flightdata/statistics.html#ORBITERSTATS)
12. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/2.pdf)
13. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/d/discovery.html)
14. Quora
15. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File