Associated Press
via Los Angeles Times
3/7/2011
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Discovery, the world’s most traveled spaceship, left the International Space Station on Monday for the last time, getting a dramatic send-off by the dozen orbiting astronauts as well as “Star Trek’s” original Capt. Kirk.
Station skipper Scott Kelly rang his ship’s bell in true naval tradition, as the shuttle backed away on the final leg of its final journey.
“Discovery departing,” he called out.
Discovery is due back on Earth on Wednesday. It’s being retired after touchdown and sent to the Smithsonian Institution for display. NASA’s two other shuttles will join Discovery in retirement, following their upcoming missions…
…Actor William Shatner, who played Capt. James Kirk on the original “Star Trek” TV series, paid tribute to Discovery’s voyages over the decades.
“Space, the final frontier,” Shatner said in a recorded message. “These have been the voyages of the space shuttle Discovery. Her 30-year mission: to seek out new science, to build new outposts, to bring nations together on the final frontier, to boldly go and do what no spacecraft has done before.”
Shatner’s words were followed by Monday morning’s wake-up music, “Theme from Star Trek.” It was the runner-up in a pick-the-wake-up-music contest sponsored by NASA. The No. 1 vote-getter will be beamed up Tuesday…
Read the complete article at LATimes
