NASA's Space Shuttle "Discovery" departs the Kennedy Space Center for the Smithsonian Museum

After serving the US Space Program for nearly 30 years, NASA's space shuttle "Discovery" makes its final departure from its "home base" the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on April 17, 2012. The orbiter and the shuttle carrier aircraft took off shortly before 7:00 AM from the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 33. Discovery is headed for the Smithsonian Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia near Washington DC., where it will be placed on permanent display for public viewing. .UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell