Photography

Smithsonian Institution via NASA, Carolyn Russo

Space shuttles Enterprise, left, and Discovery meet nose-to-nose at the beginning of a transfer ceremony at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Chantilly, Va. Space shuttle Discovery will take the place of Enterprise at the center to commemorate past achievements in space and retire as an artifact representing the 30-year shuttle program.

SAUL LOEB / AFP

Space Shuttle Discovery following a transfer ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, April 19, 2012, as the Shuttle Discovery is officially received by the museum and will be placed on permanent display. Discovery is the first spaceship of the retired US shuttle fleet to enter its permanent home as a museum artifact, replacing the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise, which will be moved to a museum in New York.

MARK WILSON / GETTY IMAGES

Former Astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH) stands in front of the Space Shuttle Discovery during an event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. The space shuttle Discovery is the he oldest and most traveled vehicle from NASA's space shuttle program, and will replace the Interprise at the museum.

SAUL LOEB / AFP

Ashley Koen, left, and Stephanie Harris, contractors with the Smithsonian Institute, wear models of the Space Shuttle Discovery on their heads alongside Space Shuttle Enterprise after it moved out of the Space hangar at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, April 19, 2012, prior to a ceremony where Space Shuttle Discovery will be officially received by the museum and placed on permanent display.

PAUL E. ALERS / NASA

The space shuttle Enterprise rolls from the Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center prior to a transfer ceremony April 19, 2012, in Chantilly, Virginia. Enterprise, which is being transferred to New York City, is being replaced by the space shuttle Discovery at the museum.

SAUL LOEB / AFP

The Space Shuttle Enterprise is towed from the Space hangar at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, April 19, 2012, prior to a ceremony where Space Shuttle Discovery will be officially received by the museum and placed on permanent display. Discovery is the first spaceship of the retired US shuttle fleet to enter its permanent home as a museum artifact, replacing the prototype Enterprise, which will be moved to a museum in New York.

BILL INGALLS / NASA

The space shuttle Discovery is suspended from a sling held by two cranes as the Boeing 747 is backed away at Washington Dulles International Airport, Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Sterling, Va. NASA will transfer Discovery into its new home at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum annex.

BILL INGALLS / NASA

The US Space shuttle Discovery, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is seen a few hours before being demated at Washington Dulles International Airport, Wednesday, April 17, 2012 in Sterling, VA. Discovery, the first orbiter retired from NASA?s shuttle fleet, completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles. NASA will transfer Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum to begin its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space and to educate and inspire future generations of explorers.