STS-133

Mission Profile

Overview

STS-133 was the swan song of Discovery, the most-flown spacecraft in history, closing a 27-year career on its 39th mission. The six-person crew delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module — the Leonardo cargo carrier converted into a permanent storage room and berthed to the station's Unity node — along with the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 4 and Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot to fly to the ISS. Mission Specialist Mike Barratt, a physician-astronaut fresh from a long Expedition stay two years earlier, helped orchestrate the cargo work and station outfitting. Steve Bowen and Alvin Drew conducted two spacewalks to install components and exposed a sample of material to space. After undocking, Discovery flew home for the last time, landing crisply at the Kennedy Space Center to begin its journey to a museum.

Crew

Key Milestones

1. 2011-02-24

   Discovery launches on its 39th and final mission from KSC Pad 39A

2. 2011-02-26

   Discovery docks with the International Space Station

3. 2011-03-01

   Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo installed on the Unity node

4. 2011-03-07

   Discovery undocks from the ISS for the final time

5. 2011-03-09

   Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center, ending its flying career

Key Achievements

• Final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, the most-flown orbiter in history

• Delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo, adding permanent storage to the ISS

• Flew Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot to reach the International Space Station

Related Missions

Sources

1. NASA — STS-133
2. Spaceline — STS-133 Fact Sheet
3. Wikipedia — STS-133