Space Shuttle Retirement

As the NASA Space Shuttle Program comes to an end, follow The Washington Times' historical coverage of the retirement and relocation of its spacecraft to museums across the US.

Smithsonian ceremony welcomes space shuttle Discovery

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

Space shuttles Discovery and Enterprise stood nose to nose during a stirring ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on Thursday. Published April 19, 2012

After Discovery's final journey, space shuttle lands in new home

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

The Space Shuttle Discovery, which in its 27 years logged more than 148 million miles, regularly withstood 3,000-degree temperatures and circled the Earth more than 5,000 times, finally came to rest on Thursday.

Space shuttle's final ride gives Washington 'awe-inspiring' sight

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

Space Shuttle Discovery, the NASA orbiter that spent a year's worth of time among the stars, completed its final journey Tuesday when it landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on the back of a Boeing 747.

Shuttle Discovery flyover dazzles D.C. area

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

The space shuttle Discovery passed low over the D.C. area Tuesday morning, drawing spectators to gathering spots atop buildings and aside roads for a glimpse of the onetime workhorse of NASA's orbiter fleet before it is delivered to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Space shuttle Discovery ready for final flyover

By Meredith Somers - The Washington Times

The space shuttle Discovery, carried on the back of a jumbo jet, will fly over Washington on Tuesday as the onetime workhorse of NASA's orbiter fleet is delivered to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

NASA's space shuttle launches for last time

By Marc Lancaster - The Washington Times

The space shuttle Atlantis soared from Earth one last time Friday morning, carrying four astronauts on a final, unforgettable ride.

From The Vault

NASA tests tank on space shuttle

By Philip Chien - Special to The Washington Times

NASA has filled a 154-foot-high external tank with fuel and oxygen for the first time since the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.

NASA discovers problem with bolts on space shuttles

By William Glanz - The Washington Times

Accident investigators yesterday revealed a new danger to the fleet of space shuttles but said they are not changing their theory surrounding the probable cause of the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegration.

Congressman calls space shuttles too risky

By William Glanz - The Washington Times

A congressman from Texas said yesterday that NASA's shuttle program should be scrapped because it is too risky, and he vowed not to approve funding for manned spaceflight that relies on the three remaining shuttles.