Space Shuttle Discovery’s Final Mission Lifts Off

The space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida Thursday after a four-month delay for fuel tank repairs.

Discovery is carrying six astronauts and a humanoid robot named R2 to the International Space Station. The robot will help with chores aboard the station.

This is the 39th and final mission for the space shuttle Discovery. NASA is retiring the three remaining shuttles this year and trips to the space station will be handled by Russian spacecraft. Future orbital trips will also utilize private companies.

Ever since the Apollo missions I've been fascinated by the rockets lifting off from the launch pad and making it into space. The shuttle program was even more amazing with a space ship that can land back on Earth and be reused.

I'll miss watching the launches, but I guess we still have the videos.