NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mission: STS-133
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Primary Payload: Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM)
Launch Date: Feb. 24
Launch Time: 4:53:24 p.m. EST
Launch Pad: 39A
Landing: March 9, 2011
Landing Time: 11:57 a.m. EST
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Mission Duration: 13 days
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

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Image above: Space shuttle Discovery lifted off Feb. 24, 2011, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin its final mission. Image credit: NASA
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Image above: Space shuttle Discovery lands at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on March 9, 2011, bringing to a close 27 years of spaceflight for the agency's oldest active orbiter. Image credit: NASA
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Discovery Posts Flawless Flight
The crew of STS-133 closed out space shuttle Discovery's roster of accomplishments with a virtually flawless 13-day flight to attach a new module to the International Space Station and help the residents there outfit the orbiting laboratory for continued research.
Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Michael Barratt, Nicole Stott and Steve Bowen lifted off aboard Discovery on Feb. 24, 2011, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin Discovery's pursuit of the station.
The crew completed two spacewalks, installed the Permanent Multipurpose Module to the space station and attached a platform carrying spare parts for the station. They also outfitted the new module for use by station residents and set up the orbiting laboratory for continued research.
The shuttle soared through mostly clear skies over Florida on Wednesday, March 9. Lindsey guided Discovery onto the runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 11:57 a.m. EST.

After the landing, reflection mixed with celebration at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after space shuttle Discovery completed the last of its 39 missions into orbit. Lindsey and his crew walked beneath the shuttle with NASA officials including Administrator Charles Bolden.

"I am so glad we got to land here at Kennedy, the home of Discovery," STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey said. "As the minutes pass, I'm actually getting sadder and sadder about this being the last flight and I know all the folks involved with the shuttle program feel the same way."

Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator of Space Operations, said the work was critical to set up the station and its crew for research.

"I think (Discovery's) legacy will be the future," Gerstenmaier said.

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