The space shuttle Discovery flies by the Smithsonian Castle on the back of a 747 plane on the way to Dulles Airport on April 17, 2012. Discovery will become part of the collection at the National Air THE SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY FLIES BY THE SMITHSONIAN CASTLE ON THE BACK OF A 747 PLANE ON THE WAY TO DULLES AIRPORT ON APRIL 17, 2012. DISCOVERY WILL BECOME PART OF THE COLLECTION AT THE NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM'S STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER.

This morning was the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery. During its 27 years of service, the shuttle flew 39 missions. The final flight took it from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the Washington-Dulles International Airport. She now becomes part of the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the National Air & Space Museum. Atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747, Discovery flew over a few DC area landmarks, including the National Mall. The shuttle piggybacks on the larger plane because it does not have engines. I stood on the steps of the National Museum of Natural History to get this photo. Having the shuttle fly over the Smithsonian Castle seemed fitting, given its new home.

The space shuttle Discovery flies over Washington, DC on its final flight on April 17, 2012.

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