Space Shuttle Discovery was transferred to the Smithsonian and placed on permanent display. The large crowd at the Welcome Discovery Ceremony enjoyed music by the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps; appearance by Discovery commanders and crew members; nose-to-nose meeting of Space Shuttles Discovery and Enterprise; the national anthem sung by mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves; and distinguised speakers including former Mercury and Discovery astronaut Senator John Glenn. 

Rounding out the ceremony was the formal signing of the document transferring Discovery from NASA to the Smithsonian.

Following the ceremony, spectators enjoyed the rare opportunity to get a close-up view of both Discovery and Enterprise and take photographs.

A huge array of activities were available inside and outside. See the full list of activities >>. The activities will continue April 20-22. 

Late in the day, Enterprise was moved into a temporary position beside the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. Enterprise, which has been on view at the Udvar-Hazy Center since it opened in 2003, will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, arriving at JFK Airport on April 23.

Shortly thereafter, Discovery was moved into the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar for permanent display.

 

The Welcome Discovery festival was presented in cooperation with NASA. Support for the Welcome Discovery ceremony was generously provided by The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.
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