Space Shuttle Discovery Lifts Off On Final Mission

The final Discovery launch successfully occured at 01:59:14 p.m., PST, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The arm holding the "beanie cap" over the top of the tank rotated away from the shuttle and the shuttle's three main engines ignited six seconds before launch. It will take Discovery 8 1/2 minutes to reach a speed of 17,500 mph and achieve orbit. The photo below shows the crew of STS-133 just before they climbed inside the Astrovan to go to the launch pad. The astronauts making today's flight are, from left, Mission Specialists Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt, Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Pilot Eric Boe and Commander Steve Lindsey. During space shuttle Discovery's final spaceflight, the STS-133 crew members will take important spare parts to the International Space Station along with the Express Logistics Carrier-4.