
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Just after sunrise, visitors to Cocoa Beach catch a final glimpse of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery from the Space Coast to its new home in Virginia. The aircraft, known as an SCA, is a Boeing 747 jet, originally manufactured for commercial use which was modified by NASA to transport the shuttles between destinations on Earth. This SCA, designated NASA 905, is assigned to the remaining ferry missions, delivering the shuttles to their permanent public display sites. NASA 905 is ferrying Discovery to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia today, after which the shuttle will be placed on display in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center around April 19. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html. For more information on shuttle transition and retirement activities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/transition. Photo credit: NASA/R. D. Lee
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NASA ID
KSC-2012-2382
Date Created
April 17, 2012
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Cape Canaveral, FL
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