NASA’s 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Arrives At KSC For Shuttle Discovery’s Departure

A modified NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, arrives at Kennedy Space Center yesterday afternoon.  The SCA will fly space shuttle Discovery to her new home next week at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.  Photo Credit: Julian Leek / Blue Sawtooth
A modified NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, moments after arriving at Kennedy Space Center yesterday afternoon. The SCA will fly space shuttle Discovery to her new home next week at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. Photo Credit: Julian Leek / Blue Sawtooth

Nasa’s modified 747 shuttle carrier aircraft N905NA touched down on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility late yesterday afternoon. Back lit by the afternoon sun the aircraft approached from the north and landed before the mid-way point as a small contingency of press looked on. The aircraft taxied down to the mate-demate area and is now parked, where it will wait for shuttle Discovery to be mounted atop its backside this coming weekend.  The arrival of NASA’s 747 SCA begins a full week of events, all leading up to next Tuesday when the shuttle carrier aircraft departs KSC with the space shuttle Discovery on her back, ferrying NASA’s fleet leading orbiter to her new home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Stay with Americaspace for full coverage of all events leading up to Discovery’s departure next week, including her arrival at her new home at the Smithsonian.

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Part of the interior of NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Photo Credit: Julian Leek / Blue Sawtooth

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