Media Inquiries Public Inquiries 202-633-1000

WHAT:          Welcome Discovery! Presentation of arrival plans.

WHEN:          Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.

WHERE:       National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Parkway, Chantilly, Va.

WHO:              Valerie Neal, space shuttle curator

                        Claire Brown, director of communications

                        Isabel Lara, media relations manager

                        Brian Mullen, media projects manager

                        Frank McNally, tourism industry liaison

                        Doug Baldwin, chief of education at the Udvar-Hazy Center

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum communications and education staff will share details about Discovery's arrival, including public events, media opportunities and opportunities for promotion and publicity.

Refreshments, posters and DVDs will be available.

Interested media must RSVP to larai@si.edu or mullenb@si.edu

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- 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 on February 24, 2011. The six-member crew delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the orbiting outpost. Discovery flew its 39th and final mission and was retired following STS-133. This is the 133rd Space Shuttle Program mission and the 35th shuttle voyage to the space station.  Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen and Mike Gayle

The Space Shuttle Discovery hitched a ride on NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the flight from the Dryden Flight Research Center in California, to Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 19, 2005.