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NASA Shuttle Specific Sections => Discovery (Post-STS-133, T&R) => Topic started by: Ronsmytheiii on 01/24/2013 01:06 am

Title: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 01/24/2013 01:06 am
Amazed by the crowd, was a bit tempted to be upset with the size but truthfully glad she got the attention she deserved.  Posted a few areas of Interest on L2, but will post for wider audience here.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 01/24/2013 01:08 am
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 01/24/2013 01:11 am
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: kermit on 01/24/2013 01:35 pm
Hi Ron, do you know what happened to the SSME and F1 engines. Last time I saw them they were in the restoration hangar. I asked a few people in there, but they did not know were they went.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: TimSnyder on 01/24/2013 01:56 pm
I heard that the SSME is now at the museum on the National Mall, and that the F1 engine was sent back to NASA.  They tore apart and updated the F1 and actually test fired it to gain data for SLS. Check out this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/nasa-engine-test-parts-saturn-v-rocket-moon_n_2534361.html
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: OV135 on 01/24/2013 02:05 pm
There is a video of the test posted. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IdJuq9KaZs

Cool photos of Discovery. :)
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: kermit on 01/24/2013 05:17 pm
Thanks Tim, next to OV-103 that F1 was the most impressive display in the Museum.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 01/25/2013 12:07 am
Awesome pictures! I'm glad to see Discovery's doing well.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: rayleighscatter on 01/26/2013 11:02 pm
I heard that the SSME is now at the museum on the National Mall, and that the F1 engine was sent back to NASA.  They tore apart and updated the F1 and actually test fired it to gain data for SLS. Check out this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/nasa-engine-test-parts-saturn-v-rocket-moon_n_2534361.html
I was in DC today so I checked in on the engines.
The SSME is indeed in the still incomplete display at the downtown Air and Space. The display F1 is still downtown too, not sure if the Smithsonian had a second F1?
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 01/27/2013 01:57 am
I heard that the SSME is now at the museum on the National Mall, and that the F1 engine was sent back to NASA.  They tore apart and updated the F1 and actually test fired it to gain data for SLS. Check out this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/nasa-engine-test-parts-saturn-v-rocket-moon_n_2534361.html
I was in DC today so I checked in on the engines.
The SSME is indeed in the still incomplete display at the downtown Air and Space. The display F1 is still downtown too, not sure if the Smithsonian had a second F1?


There was a F-1 at the mall location and at Dulles last year, and did not see the later the time so could be entirely plausible that its at Marshall.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Blackstar on 02/15/2013 03:22 am
A docent told me the F-1 was downtown. But if you didn't see it there, then it's not there. I saw an F-1 at Marshall last June, which was before the one at Udvar-Hazy disappeared. I have a photo of it somewhere.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Blackstar on 02/15/2013 03:51 am
I was wrong. What I saw at Huntsville was not a complete F-1, but the powerpack. I'm not sure exactly what this part is called. There were other parts on the floor, but I didn't take any pictures so I don't know what they were.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Aviator on 02/16/2013 05:43 am
Gentlemen,

I'm pretty sure I caught a shot of the "missing" F-1 at Udvar last year right as the were prepping Enterprise for her trip to NYC  Check out the second pic in my post

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=20763.msg861077#msg861077

I even noted at the time that it look like an F-1 under the plastic

The F-1 was in the restoration hangar and was sitting with some other Shuttle hardware that NASA was moving around as they sent the Orbiters to their final homes.

Where it went I have no idea but, I'm pretty sure that F-1 was on its way out the door.

Larry
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: bubbagret on 02/16/2013 07:02 am
I was wrong. What I saw at Huntsville was not a complete F-1, but the powerpack. I'm not sure exactly what this part is called. There were other parts on the floor, but I didn't take any pictures so I don't know what they were.

F-1 Turbo Pump assembly. Oxy stage on top, Fuel stage in the middle and the hot, smokey part is on the bottom.  ;D
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: collectSPACE on 02/16/2013 09:00 am
Where it went I have no idea but, I'm pretty sure that F-1 was on its way out the door.

The second photo here: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-012113a.html ...shows the F-1 from the National Air and Space Museum arriving at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Space Pete on 02/24/2013 03:31 pm
Today marks two years since her last launch. :'(
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 02/24/2013 03:46 pm
Dang already? :(
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: brettreds2k on 02/25/2013 12:25 pm
Wow time has flown by. She atleast is getting all the attention in her home.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: wolfpack on 04/15/2013 12:14 am
Will pay her a visit in a week's time. Pics to follow!
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Sarah on 05/12/2013 05:27 am
I visited Discovery this week. It was awesome to see her again! One thing I noticed is the slight orange coloring of the tiles from the ET doors back to the end of the body flap. You can kind of see it in the photos. I suspect this is from ET separation but I'm not sure.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: SalemHanna on 05/13/2013 10:15 pm
I visited Discovery this week. It was awesome to see her again! One thing I noticed is the slight orange coloring of the tiles from the ET doors back to the end of the body flap. You can kind of see it in the photos. I suspect this is from ET separation but I'm not sure.


That's interesting about the orange stains.

The thing I always found curious about Discovery was the dark strip of black thermal tiles she has running down from one of her right cockpit windows. It's quite distinctive - you don't see it on any other orbiter. Always assumed she had an extra piece of equipment there that needed special heat protection, or a structural weakness that might have also needed 'patching up'. But could never find the answer on Google.

Anyone out there know the reason?
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 05/14/2013 01:19 am
Can you find a picture of it next to another orbiter? You've peaked my interest..
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: psloss on 05/14/2013 01:32 am
You can see it in RPM imagery; for example:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-133/html/iss026e030066.html

And likely since Discovery flew the most of the three retired vehicles, it's not hard to notice once you've noticed it; stacking for the same mission:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=48602
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Sarah on 05/14/2013 08:04 pm
I visited Discovery this week. It was awesome to see her again! One thing I noticed is the slight orange coloring of the tiles from the ET doors back to the end of the body flap. You can kind of see it in the photos. I suspect this is from ET separation but I'm not sure.


That's interesting about the orange stains.

The thing I always found curious about Discovery was the dark strip of black thermal tiles she has running down from one of her right cockpit windows. It's quite distinctive - you don't see it on any other orbiter. Always assumed she had an extra piece of equipment there that needed special heat protection, or a structural weakness that might have also needed 'patching up'. But could never find the answer on Google.

Anyone out there know the reason?

My understanding of the three HRSI tiles under Discovery's window is that it was likely a mistake. Those tiles were supposed to be LRSI tiles. Since there was no harm in using HRSI tiles in that location, they were installed.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Soaring Habu on 05/17/2013 04:55 pm
I've also noticed those extra tiles below Discovery's cockpit windows on the righthand side, in many of the photos I've seen of her, both in service and retired, and I've also wondered why they were there.

I actually use those distinctive tiles to help me to identify Disco in pictures where I can't quite make out her name, such as long-distance launch or landing shots, and when I'm downloading Shuttle photos, even close-up ones, I always know that it's a photo of Discovery when I see those distinctive tiles, even if the photo hasn't downloaded enough to let me read her name. :)
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Sarah on 05/17/2013 06:12 pm
Originally Discovery had four HRSI tiles under her window but at some point one was replaced with an LRSI tile. This further leads me to believe this was a build mistake when they made the tiles.

You can see in the top photo the original four HRSI tiles. In the bottom photo, the lower tile is now an LRSI tile.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: psloss on 05/17/2013 08:11 pm
Originally Discovery had four HRSI tiles under her window but at some point one was replaced with an LRSI tile.
I believe that change was made sometime during 103's J2 OMM (the only one for Discovery at Palmdale).
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: wkann on 05/17/2013 10:41 pm
Maybe the HRSI tiles under Discovery's window were some kind of "shuttle birthmark" like Columbia's "sideburns" on the top of the wings. :)
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: SalemHanna on 05/20/2013 10:41 pm
Maybe the HRSI tiles under Discovery's window were some kind of "shuttle birthmark" like Columbia's "sideburns" on the top of the wings. :)

lol...to me they look more like a teardrop than a birthmark, but I know what you mean. Cheers for your responses guys, it's good to clear that little mystery up!
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: brettreds2k on 05/21/2013 12:05 pm
So what you are all saying is poor Discovery has a birth defect? :( lol
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Soaring Habu on 05/23/2013 06:52 pm
So what you are all saying is poor Discovery has a birth defect? :( lol

Maybe we should think of those extra tiles as Discovery's "Mark of Distinction"! :)
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ares67 on 05/27/2013 05:42 pm
I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...  ::) ;D
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: SalemHanna on 05/27/2013 06:01 pm
I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...  ::) ;D

A tear of joy at getting the majority of headline-grabbing missions?
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Ares67 on 05/27/2013 06:04 pm
I always called it "the tear," although I can't explain why my favorite orbiter should have been crying...  ::) ;D

A tear of joy at getting the majority of headline-grabbing missions?

Yeah, that's it!  :)
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: TJL on 08/21/2013 01:13 am
Went with my family this week to see space shuttle Discovery on display.
Having the privilege of seeing Discovery fly from KSC 5 times, it really meant a lot to see her up close again!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-qsoZDcdOCnVTBKdEI0Yk9pc2s/edit?pli=1

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-qsoZDcdOCnemo5N3hyUXE4Ym8/edit?pli=1
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: 32s on 09/10/2013 12:00 am
A few pictures of Discovery
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/10/2013 04:18 pm
Thank you for your pictures, 32s!
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: 32s on 09/12/2013 12:40 am
Thanks , a few more pictures
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/12/2013 01:01 pm
Hey 32s, did you notice any dust on Discovery? I heard complaints about that.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: 32s on 09/12/2013 03:54 pm
Yes, there was quite a bit of dust on the wings.  We were a little surprised to see this.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/12/2013 06:11 pm
Ugh. That disappoints me. I always thought they could at least go over her every 6 months or so with a duster.

Here's a picture I saw on Flickr awhile ago of dust on the windows.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: OV135 on 09/18/2013 11:13 pm
IMO perhaps for all the orbiters they be treated as how NASA treats them, even as they are museum pieces. They are kept clean and preferably behind a nitrogen filled glass case.

As an example the Apollo capsules are all behind glass cases to protect them from dust and children who would break them by mistake. The shuttle orbiters should also be given the same respect. I'm very serious about this.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/19/2013 08:28 pm
I actually emailed Udvar-Hazy about this last week asking about how/if they clean Discovery. They got back to me and said they would be forwarding my email to a department that could answer it for me. So far no response.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: brettreds2k on 09/24/2013 02:13 pm
W wonder if they will clean her up a bit. I hope KSC keeps Atlantis clean and daily checks for items people may have thrown over into the cargo bay or left wing.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: collectSPACE on 09/24/2013 09:22 pm
...did you notice any dust on Discovery? I heard complaints about that.

Before rumors start running rampant about a dusty Discovery,  I checked with the museum.

The museum has an artifact cleaning crew who carefully dust the aircraft and spacecraft on a rotating schedule to remove light dust and lint (mostly denim fiber) raised by the millions of visitors who walk through the display areas annually. It takes months to complete one round of dusting, so at any given time any given object may appear to be in need of attention. It's a matter of timing, not inattention.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: brettreds2k on 09/25/2013 12:11 pm
That makes total sense, It is a huge place, When I went to see Discovery last year she looked great but of course those who love these Shuttles tend to get worried they are not taken care of lol
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/25/2013 01:43 pm
Thank you for checking on this, CS.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 09/30/2013 02:54 pm
A note regarding Space Shuttle Discovery and the Udvar-Hazy Center posted by the Smithsonian: Please note: If the federal government shuts down on Oct. 1, our museums will be closed and all events will be canceled.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: brettreds2k on 09/30/2013 04:55 pm
I saw that on their facebook page last week, That will suck if they have to close down while the morons in Washington fight
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 10/02/2013 10:59 pm
All we can do now is hope that Discovery enjoys her break.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Overflow on 10/17/2013 02:59 pm
Now that the government shutdown is over.. Discovery is back! Hopefully she enjoyed her break.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Wayne Hale on 12/08/2014 03:15 pm
Just for fun, I will be at the Udvar-Hazy talking to the docents on Wednesday Dec 10 2014 at 9 AM.  Hopefully this will give the team some insight so they can give even better tours.  And this will beat the deadline of Dec 11 if the government shuts down once again . . . .
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: RamjetFDO on 12/30/2014 01:37 pm
Just for fun, I will be at the Udvar-Hazy talking to the docents on Wednesday Dec 10 2014 at 9 AM.  Hopefully this will give the team some insight so they can give even better tours.

How did this go, Wayne?

When Discovery first made it to Udvar-Hazy, I was on hand to see her into the hanger...  during that first "private viewing" morning some of us had, I talked for about 15 minutes to a handful of docents who were there.  They had some really good questions about the "battle scars" that an operational spacecraft had vs Enterprise.  We had some good discussions of the flow patterns over the wings and fuselage and how some of the scorch marks they were seeing on Discovery was a direct result of that.

It helped a bit to know that these guys are not only there, but are dedicated to "telling the story" of our girl. 
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: david1971 on 07/28/2018 06:31 pm
I'm going to be in DC mid-week, and am trying to figure out planning around a trip to Udvar-Hazy.  Any tips?  How reliable is the bus from the airport?  Would getting an Uber be a better choice?

I'm sure I'll be star-struck by Discovery, are there other displays/artifacts that I won't want to miss by mistake?
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: IanThePineapple on 07/28/2018 06:52 pm
I'm going to be in DC mid-week, and am trying to figure out planning around a trip to Udvar-Hazy.  Any tips?  How reliable is the bus from the airport?  Would getting an Uber be a better choice?

I'm sure I'll be star-struck by Discovery, are there other displays/artifacts that I won't want to miss by mistake?

Emphasis mine

You'll definitely want to look at the restoration hangar, it's off to the side in the back of the museum, and they have a lot of interesting items there. Also, look through all of the display cases in the space exhibit, there's small things like astronaut boots, some of Goddard's rocket engines, and many other things people can easily look over while going to see Discovery or the capsules on display. I believe there's a complete Apollo SM engine on display, one of Goddard's early rockets, a Redstone missile, Agena, Pegasus, and many more other rockets on display. You also won't want to miss all the larger rocket engines towards the right of the space area (behind the Pegasus), where they have a Saturn I H-1 engine, a Titan II LR-87, and more.

I was last there in December last year, so I might be forgetting some things and some things may have been moved.

Hope that helped.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: JAFO on 07/29/2018 03:44 am
I'm going to be in DC mid-week, and am trying to figure out planning around a trip to Udvar-Hazy.  Any tips?  How reliable is the bus from the airport?  Would getting an Uber be a better choice?



No, the bus runs to/from Dulles every 15 min or so, I think it costs $2. Just ask at the airport info booth and they’ll take care of you, easy-peasy.


Leave a LOT of time, it’s a yuge place. The hardest part for me was not buying out the bookstore.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: jjyach on 07/30/2018 01:43 pm
Definitely take a look in the restoration hanger as noted above.  When I was last there about 3 months ago, they had   an original Iridium sat in there from the downtown site in for its periodic cleaning/work.  I know too that over the past year or so they've had the Apollo 11 Command Module.  Was out there last week, but sadly had no time before my flight out to visit.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: joseph.a.navin on 12/31/2018 11:06 pm
I checked on our beloved Discovery (OV-103) last week at the Smithsonian. I really took more time to view her and look at the insulation on the nose gear wheel well. However, I noticed some odd discoloration on the tiles on the aft end of OV-103 (in the third photo). I can't remember if I have seen this before. Is this how Discovery always looked or is this some discoloration from the years of display? I have to say it did cause a bit of concern in me when I saw it.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: penguin44 on 01/01/2019 05:49 am
Yeah that's been there since she rolled in. Hard to see depending on the angle due to the light setup. Don't know if it was there before she went on her tour.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Hog on 01/03/2019 07:23 pm
OV-103 was/is one of the most highly discoloured of the intact Orbiter Vehicles.


Pics
#1 Discovery during her rollout ceremony at Palmdale California-1983, the cradle of all Shuttle Orbiter Vehicles
2) Discovery during STS-133 just before docking, so Feb 26 2011
3) Discovery STS-133 touchdown
4) Discovery aboard a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft(SCA) 2012
5) Enterprise(OV-101) Discovery(OV-103) nose to nose at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center  A great contrast between an OV with Zero space flights but 13 atmospheric flights in addition to the International Tour that Enterprise was taken on from the USA-Canada to England, French Airshow and back again in 1983, and the Mated Vertical Ground Vibration Test and the fit test checkouts that were made by Enterprise at Vandenberg's SLC-6.  There was also the tests for the CAIB which robbed some parts from Enterprise.  There are marks/indents in certain RCC components from the CAIB testing. I didn't include the 3 taxi tests of the ALT program.  The comparison between Enterprise and Atlantis are marked. Enterprise looks brand new while Atlantis looks like a re-usable space vehicle.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: joseph.a.navin on 05/23/2019 02:09 pm
More recent OV-103 photos
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: joseph.a.navin on 05/23/2019 02:10 pm
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: joseph.a.navin on 05/23/2019 02:18 pm
Looks like they added a new Shuttle artifact to the Space hanger. I assume it is a foot restraint for EVAs which attached to the Shuttle's CanadArm.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: kendalla59 on 05/29/2023 02:41 pm
It was a bit awe-inspiring to see Discovery and an SR-71 Blackbird in a single view. Just out of view here, Glamorous Glennis. What a great day at the Smithsonian Air&Space. After previous visits to Kennedy Space Center and the California Science Center, I've now seen all three shuttle orbiter displays. Next on the list is NYC for Enterprise at the Intrepid Museum.

By the way if anybody out there is coming to the Portland, Oregon area definitely make time for the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Spruce Goose, SR-71 Blackbird, and the only remaining Titan II SLV. It's just over an hour's drive from the Portland airport.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Thorny on 06/13/2023 01:08 am
By the way if anybody out there is coming to the Portland, Oregon area definitely make time for the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Spruce Goose, SR-71 Blackbird, and the only remaining Titan II SLV. It's just over an hour's drive from the Portland airport.

There is a Titan II in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.

Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: tadaniels on 06/13/2023 05:14 pm
By the way if anybody out there is coming to the Portland, Oregon area definitely make time for the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Spruce Goose, SR-71 Blackbird, and the only remaining Titan II SLV. It's just over an hour's drive from the Portland airport.

There is a Titan II in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.



The Rocket Garden example is not a Titan II SLV. 14 former ICBM Titans were converted to the 23G Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) configuration. Thirteen were launched (twelve successfully). The sole remaining 23G SLV is the one on display at Evergreen.
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: Nicolas PILLET on 08/03/2023 11:32 am
My pictures of Discovery are here :

https://www.kosmonavtika.com/vaisseaux/sts/visite/udvar1/udvar1.html
Title: Re: OV-103 in Dulles
Post by: catdlr on 02/13/2024 01:32 am
https://twitter.com/_mgde_/status/1757225966529573100

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