Space shuttle Discovery to wave last goodbye

Discovery, the oldest space shuttle in service, will embark on it's final journey on February 24, 2011. (Photo: NASA)

Discovery took first flight on August 30, 1984 from the Kennedy space center. (Photo: NASA)

It carried US Congress member Jake Garn on its fourth journey. He became the first sitting US Congress member in space.

In 1988 it became the first space shuttle to return to space after the “Challenger” disaster, where all seven crew members died. (Photo: NASA)

On April 24, 1990, Discovery launched the “Hubble Telescope” along with space shuttle Colombia. It was the first time two shuttles were launched together since the “Challenger” tragedy.

Discovery hosted Sergei Kirkalev, who became the first Russian cosmonaut the fly aboard a space shuttle.

October 11, 2000 mission of Discovery marked the hundredth mission of all space shuttles ever launched. (Photo: NASA)

Discovery hosted Senator John Glenn, who became the oldest man in space at the age of 77. (Photo: NASA)

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton tracking the plume and successful launch of space shuttle Discovery. (Photo: NASA)

It was the first space shuttle to return to active duty after the “Colombia” incident on July 26, 2005. (Photo: NASA)

A fish-eye view of Discovery's cockpit. (Photo: NASA)

Discovery lands on runway 15 of the shuttle landing facility at the Kennedy space center. (Photo: NASA)

On April 20, 2010, Discovery embarked on the longest ever mission for a space shuttle. The shuttle was docked at the international space station for eleven days. (Photo: NASA)