Discovery flies over the D.C. area

Space shuttle Discovery landed at Dulles airport on April 17 on the back of a 747 after a fly-around of much of the region. It’s now bound for the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

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April 17, 2012

Spectators say their farewells to the Enterprise at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Folks say their goodbyes to the Enterprise at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The prototype will be moved to New York to make way for the Space Shuttle Discovery that was flown into Dulles earlier in the day.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Jeff Sims visiting from Hobart, Tazmania, missed the flyovers of the Space Shuttle Discovery, but enjoys seeing the planes and the Enterprise, which he photographs, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The Enterprise will be moved to New York to make way for the Space Shuttle Discovery that was flown into Dulles earlier in the day.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

TSA employees have their photo taken as they stand next to the Shuttle Discovery at Dulles Airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Discovery arrives at Dulles.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

From left to right: Bill Rieke, Jeff Moultrie, Henry T. Taylor and Larry LaRose are members of the NASA 747 crew that flew the Shuttle Discovery to Dulles. They are standing on the runway at Dulles.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle arrives at Dulles airport, bound for its final resting place at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

A close up of the rear supports holding the Shuttle Discovery to the top of the NASA 747 at Dulles Airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Members of the media pull up in an airport shuttle just opposite the Shuttle Discovery that is sitting on the Dulles runway.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The jet carrying Discovery taxis along the grounds at Dulles International Airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Crowds on the runway watching as the Discovery has just touched down at Dulles just past 11a.m.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle's carrier jet generates blue smoke as the wheels touch down at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Wheels down at Dulles just past 11 a.m. Discovery departed Kennedy Space Center in Florida around dawn. It is scheduled for a two-day layover at the airport, where it will be demated from the 747 carrier it was transported on.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery arrives at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The 747 carrying Discovery prepares to land at Dulles.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

School children gather on a playing field to watch as the space shuttle Discovery arrives at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery arrives at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery arrives at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Spectators gather on a parking garage as the space shuttle Discovery arrives at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Discovery makes a final approach to Dulles airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Discovery does a final flyover over Dulles airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

One last flyover for Discovery at Dulles airport.

Tracy A. Woodward / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Nicholas Schmitt, 9, of Boonsboro, Md., waves as Discovery passes atop a modified 747.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Nicholas Schmitt, 9, jumps up and down as the Space Shuttle Discovery atop a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flies over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. From left, are Bill Smith, of Hagerstown, Nicholas Schmitt, his father, Paul Schmitt, of Boonsboro and Landon Smith, 5, of Hagerstown. The shuttle passed by twice before flying by a third time to land.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The retired NASA space shuttle Discovery, attached to a Boeing 747, flies by the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center as the 747 dips low over the runways at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space shuttle Discovery flies over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly.

Eric Long / NASA/Smithsonian Institution

April 17, 2012

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

A boy wears an astronaut costume in the parking lot of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

April 17, 2012

Elisabeth Schmitt, 7, draws Jupiter, as she finishes putting all the planets in chalk on the street with the help of friend Madison Smith, 7, while they were waiting for the Space Shuttle Discovery atop a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to fly over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. Her mother, Teri Schmitt, with Michael, six months, and Madison who is partly hidden are on the left behind.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Crowds gather and park their cars along route 28 to watch as the space shuttle Discovery arrive at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The Space Shuttle Discovery is seen attached to a 747 jumbo jet as it flies over Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Students at Rachel Carson middle school gather in a parking lot waiting for the space shuttle Discovery, arriving for its final destination at the Udvar Hazy center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

As viewed from "Top of the Town" in Arlington, people watch an aircraft carrying the space shuttle Discovery .

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

From left to right: Hashim Pendergast, Christopher Hammett, Kiven Reavis, Brinden Banks, student teacher Rachel Donaldson, Kendall Ward, Jordan Matthews and Heavin Holmes watch the last flight of the space shuttle Discovery at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C . The third grade class of Eagle Academy Public Charter School came to the Capitol just to watch the historic flight.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Shuttle Discovery files over the Washington Monument.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

From left to right: Helen Dombalis and Meredith Beers watch the last flight of the space shuttle Discovery over the skies from the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space shuttle Discovery flies over the Washington skyline as seen from a NASA T-38 aircraft.

Robert Markowitz / NASA

April 17, 2012

Spectators at the Washington Monument check their camera phones as the space shuttle Discovery flew over the metropolitan area hitching a ride on a jumbo jet on its way to retirement at the Udvar-Hazy museum.

Dayna Smith / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Sue Juknavorian photographs her family at the Washington Monument waiting for the space shuttle Discovery which flew over the metropolitan area hitching a ride on a jumbo jet on its way to retirement at the Udvar-Hazy museum.

Dayna Smith / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space shuttle Discovery flew over the metropolitan area as seen from the Washington Monument hitching a ride on a jumbo jet on its way to retirement at the Udvar-Hazy museum.

Dayna Smith / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery fllies pass the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Mark Gail / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery arrives in Washington.

Jonathan Newton / WASHINGTON POST

April 17, 2012

Sixth-graders and their escorts visiting the Capitol from from the Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga., watch the final voyage of the space shuttle Discovery as it soars above Washington after a flight from Cape Canaveral, Fla. At left is French teacher Nathalie Ettzevoglou and at right is Diane Dorogy, a parent escort.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

April 17, 2012

Shuttle Discovery as seen from the North Plaza of the Jefferson Memorial, in Washington, D.C.

Todd Lindeman / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The shuttle Discovery, riding piggy-back on a 747, made fly-by's over the Washington area today en route to Dulles airport. This is view taken from the roof of the old St. Elizabeth's Hospital looking toward downtown Washington, D.C. GSA construction workers at a new Homeland Security complex took time to get a view of the passing planes.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery arrives in Washington where it will become a permanent installation at the Smithsonian's annex in northern Virginia.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

As viewed from "Top of the Town" in Arlington, an aircraft carrying the space shuttle Discovery flies over Washington, D.C .

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Cynthia Simms, left, and her daughters — Ayana Simms, center, and Nadiyah Simms — take pictures from their 10th floor Marybury Plaza apartment balcony as the space shuttle Discovery rides piggyback on a 747 over the Washington, D.C, area en route to the Smithsonian Institution's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport. "That's one of the best things I've ever seen. That's history," Nadiyah said about seeing the passing shuttle. "And what an awesome view we have from over here in Marbury Plaza," added mother Cynthia.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

People watch the arrival of the space shuttle Discovery from the rooftop of a building on Wisconsin Avenue NW as it flies over Washington.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

"It's a sad moment," says Ada Kulyk, left, as she waves goodbye to the space shuttle Discover after its flyover of Washington, D.C., before landing at Dulles Airport. Kulyk covered every shuttle launch for Voice of America.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Spectators stand on the corner of 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW while looking for the Discovery Shuttle as it arrives in Washington, D.C.

Marlon Correa / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Shuttle Discovery during second pass along Mall, viewed from Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C

David Griffin / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Onlookers in Lafayette Park wait as the Shuttle Discovery arrives in Washington, D.C.

Marlon Correa / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The NASA space shuttle Discovery is seen from the White House's North Lawn as it is flown over Washington, D.C.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images

April 17, 2012

The NASA space shuttle Discovery is seen from the White House's North Lawn as it is flown over Washington.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images

April 17, 2012

Shuttle Discovery as seen from a roof deck in Logan Circle, in Washington, D.C.

Rajiv Chandrasekaran / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Shuttle Discovery is viewed from the rooftops of Burleith, looking south, in Washington.

Patterson Clark / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

People stand on the roof of the U.S. Labor Department as U.S. space shuttle Discovery sitting atop NASA's 747 shuttle carrier aircraft flies by Washington, D.C.

Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images

April 17, 2012

Onlookers take photos of the Shuttle Discovery as it flies by the Washington Monument.

Marlon Correa / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Tourists, congressional staffers and nearby workers stop at the U.S. Capitol to watch the last flight of the shuttle Discovery.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

As viewed from "Top of the Town" in Arlington, an aircraft carrying the space shuttle Discovery flies over Washington, D.C.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

The Space Shuttle Discovery is seen from the roof of the old St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Members of the military at Andrews Air Force Base observe the Space Shuttle Discovery as it flies and loops around the base in Maryland .

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Members of the military at Andrews Air Force Base observe the Space Shuttle Discovery as it flies and loops around the base in Maryland.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery arrives at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery flies over Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery flies over Andrews Air Force Base.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery arrives at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery atop a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flies over the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly where a crowd gathered to watch.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

April 17, 2012

From left to right: Max Sigrest, 6; Rachel Teufert, 16; Jason Kuhns; Samuel Sigrest, 4; and Piper Sigrest, 15 of Woodbridge, Va., watch as the space shuttle Discovery — bolted to the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet — passes over the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery, teathered to the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet, passes over the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

April 17, 2012

Four-year-old Alex Mendez of Sterling, Va., wears a space shuttle costume while he waits with thousands of others for the arrival of the space shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

April 17, 2012

People react as they watch the the space shuttle Discovery as it flies over the parking lot of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

April 17, 2012

Space shuttle Discovery makes a final pass over the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex rocket garden at Cape Canaveral. Among those gathered at the space center were astronauts Hank Hartsfield, who was commander on STS-41D, Discovery's maiden voyage, and Charlie Walker, who was a payload specialist on the same mission.

Tim Shortt / AP

April 17, 2012

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home flies over the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Glenn Benson / NASA

April 17, 2012

Space shuttle Discovery atop a 747 carrier jet departs the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Discovery is being transported to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

John Raoux / AP

April 17, 2012

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft transporting space shuttle Discovery to its new home takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 7 a.m. EDT. In the background is the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building and NASA’s new mobile launcher.

Glenn Benson / NASA

April 17, 2012

The space shuttle Discovery, attached to a modified NASA 747 aircraft, takes off headed for its final home at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Joe Skipper / Reuters

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