Photos of Discovery's Final Mission: STS-133

Proud of the Team

Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses looks on proudly as Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach holds up a Discovery banner signed by the STS-133 astronauts, at a news conference held in the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following today's successful launch of space shuttle Discovery.

Discovery Arcs Off the Planet

From the Banana River Creek VIP viewing area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spectators watch space shuttle Discovery's lift off from Launch Pad 39A on its final mission to the International Space Station. Discovery lifted off at 4:53 p.m. EST on Feb. 24.

Discovery's Final Crew Heads to Launch Pad

The space shuttle Discovery's final crew, the six astronauts of NASA's STS-133 mission, head to Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch on Feb. 24, 2011.

Ready for Launch (Close Up)

At Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is seen shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A.

Launch Day Arrives

Space shuttle Discovery's six STS-133 astronauts sit down to eat breakfast together in their Astronaut Crew Quarters located in NASA Kennedy Space Center's Operations and Checkout Building. The crew woke up at about 7 a.m. to begin final preparations before their scheduled launch at 4:50 p.m. From left, are Mission Specialists Alvin Drew and Steve Bowen, Pilot Eric Boe, Commander Steve Lindsey, and Mission Specialists Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott.

Ready for Launch (Wide Shot)

At Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is seen shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A.

Ready for Launch (High Angle)

At Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is seen shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A.

Walk in Silence

Halfway through the ISS airlock, Discovery shuttle astronaut Al Drew looks at the panorama for a second. This photo was taken by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli on the International Space Station on Feb. 28, 2011 during the first of two spacewalks for Discovery's STS-133 mission.

Ready for Launch (Closer View)

At Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is seen shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A.

Landing Practice

STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey prepares for touch-and-go landing practice aboard a Shuttle Training Aircraft on the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The planes are modified Gulfstream II business jets that mimic the shuttle's handling during the final phase of landing. Practice landings are part of standard training before each space shuttle launch.