Ferryflight tail cone put onto shuttle Discovery

The aerodynamic tail cone to cover space shuttle Discovery's main engines and provide a smooth airflow during the piggyback ride atop the modified Boeing 747 carrier jet to the Smithsonian in April was installed onto the orbiter this week.

The tail cone structure was moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the nearby Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center where Discovery has been decommissioned.

Discovery is being prepared for display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Photo credit: NASA-KSC

TAIL CONE INSTALLED >