At 4:50 p.m. EST today, the space shuttle Discovery will launch into its final mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Watch the launch on NASA TV.
Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
In the 11-day mission, the crew of six, Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Tim Kopra, Nicole Stott and Michael Barratt, will transport supplies to the International Space Station. This mission includes some very special cargo—Robonaut 2.
During Discovery’s 39th mission, Robonaut 2 will become the first humanoid robot in space. The robot will be left at the space station. Studying the robot will help engineers better understand how dexterous robots behave in space and what robot capabilities could mean for future missions.
In addition to sending the first humanoid robot in space, Discovery has had a long, illustrious career. It first launched into flight on August 30, 1984. The first female space shuttle pilot and commander, the first African American space walker and the oldest person in space all reached those milestones aboard Discovery.
Watch this video from NASA to learn more about the legacy of this historic spacecraft.
If you are interested in traveling to the Kennedy Space Center, check out the Smithsonian Student Travel tour to the Sunshine State!
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