Shuttle's final salute caps off 30 years of Discovery (51 images)

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery flew it's final flight on April 17, 2012, soaring over Washington, D.C. on it's way to a permanent installation at Dulles International Airport. After 30 years, NASA ended the space shuttle program last summer.

With modifications completed, NASA's space shuttle "Discovery" rolls out from Bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on April 14, 2012. UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

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NASA's space shuttle "Discovery" rolls toward the "mate, de-mate device" at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on April 14, 2012. UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

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NASA's orbiters "Atlantis"(foreground) and "Discovery" meet on the tow way between the Vehicle Assembly Building and the Orbiter Processing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on March 9, 2012. UPI/Joe Marino-Bill Cantrell

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A view of the flight deck of NASA's Space Shuttle "Discovery"as it is being prepared for retirement at the Kennedy Space Center on June 21, 2011. UPI/Joe Marino - Bill Cantrell

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