Launch Is Go -- Mission Control Clears Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 For Launch

NASA managers poll their teams for a "go" before successfully launching Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:53 p.m. EST Thursday, February 24, 2011 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With Commander Steve Lindsey leading the STS-133 crew to deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module and Robonaut 2 to the space station, this mission marks the final flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Having been the most active space shuttle in the fleet, Discovery now flys the entire space shuttle fleet into retirement. Space Shuttle Discovery has the distinction of being the only space shuttle to serve in both return to flight programs, once after Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51L exploded on January 28, 1986 and again after the tragic break up of Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 during re-entry.

Current speculation is that the Smithsonian Institute will receive Space Shuttle Discovery where it will take its place along side Space Shuttle Enterprise; the nation's first space shuttle although it never went into orbit.

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