Space shuttle Discovery flown over nation's capital

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Steele C. G. Britton NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with space shuttle Discovery mounted atop flies throughout the skies of the National Capital Region, April 17, as part of the shuttle's final journey in air. The aircraft landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va. Before its transfer to the National Air and Space Museum Discovery completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles. For more photos, see page 6.

NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with space shuttle Discovery mounted atop flies approximately 1,500 feet above the Washington Monument, April 17, in Washington, D.C. The aircraft landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va. before its transfer to the National Air and Space Museum. Discovery completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles.