Universe Today
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Here's a collection of images from the historic final launch of space shuttle Discovery on February 24, 2011.
[caption id="attachment_83555" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Discovery's final launch. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83556" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Just after SRB light. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83536" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Discovery just after liftoff. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83558" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Space shuttle Discovery heads to space after lifting off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin its final flight to the International Space Station on the STS-133 mission. Launch was at 4:53 p.m. EST. Credit: NASA"]
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[caption id="attachment_83546" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="STS-134 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83603" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="STS-133 launch as seen from the KSC press site. Credit: Jason Rhian"]
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[caption id="attachment_83537" align="aligncenter" width="513" caption="NASA management watch the launch of space shuttle Discovery (STS-133) from the firing room at Kennedy Space Center, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls."]
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[caption id="attachment_83560" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="In Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson, left, STS-133 Assistant Shuttle Launch Director and lead NASA Test Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach watch space shuttle Discovery blaze a trail of smoke and steam as it heads toward orbit on the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA"]
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[caption id="attachment_83548" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Main engine start. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83547" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="View from the KSC press site of the STS-133 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83549" align="aligncenter" width="435" caption="STS-133 launch, just before solid rocket booster separation. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83561" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="STS-133 launch. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83557" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="A closeup of Discovery in flight. Credit: NASA"]
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[caption id="attachment_83553" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The STS-133 crew walks out to head to the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83554" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The STS-133 crew in front of the 'Astro Van' that brings them to the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83550" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Astronaut Leland Melvin talks with participants in the NASA Tweetup for STS-133 at KSC before the launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83552" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Members of the NASA Tweetup for STS-133 gather for a photo. They finally got to see their mission launch, after waiting nearly four months. Surprisingly, over 100 of the original 150 were able to return on Feb. 24 for the launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83551" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The media descends on KSC for the STS-133 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson"]
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[caption id="attachment_83516" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The twin brother of the R2 Robonaut awaits launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission, its 39th and final fligh to space. Credit: Ken Kremer"]
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[caption id="attachment_83538" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is seen shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller Feb. 23, 2011"]
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[caption id="attachment_83544" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Discovery bathed in lights after the RSS was retracted on Feb. 23, 2011. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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[caption id="attachment_83545" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="The crew of STS-133 stands in front of Discovery on the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today."]
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