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Tomorrow, NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery will make its final flight on the back of a specially modified Boeing 747. Eventually, the orbiter will be made a part of the Smithsonian collection and put on display near Washington, D.C.. However, just getting Discovery atop its carrier aircraft is no small task. These pictures go through the process, step by step, showing off some of the rarely seen equipment and processes that have supported the Shuttle program since its beginning.

1. No. 1 | Space Shuttle Discovery Departs

   

   Space Shuttle Discovery prepares to be shipped out via Boeing 747 to its new home in Washington, D.C.. From NASA: "Space shuttle Discovery backs out of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, for its trip to the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF."

2. No. 2 | Approaching the Mate-Demate Device (MDD)

   

   All the trips the Space Shuttles have taken on the backs of airplanes begin with devices like this that safely raise and lower the orbiter.

3. No. 3 | Space Shuttle Discovery

   

   'Ts a good ship.

4. No. 4 | The MDD

   

   From NASA: "The MDD is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it onto the back of an SCA. The SCA is a Boeing 747 jet, originally manufactured for commercial use, which was modified by NASA to transport the shuttles between destinations on Earth."

5. No. 5 | The Shuttle, MDD, and Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

   

   The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, seen at left, is a modified Boeing 747.

6. No. 6 | Lifting Discovery

   

   Crews began work in the wee hours of the morning to prep for mating the orbiter to its carrier aircraft.

7. No. 7 | Lifting Discovery

   

   Almost looks like it's flying.

8. No. 8 | Discovery, from Rear

   

   The orbiter's rear section has been fitted with a special cap to reduce drag and risk of damage to the orbiter while flying on the SCA.

9. No. 9 | Inside the Boeing 747 SCA

   

10. No. 10 | Inside the SCA

    

    In case you wondered what they were doing with all that extra space inside the 747.

11. No. 11 | The Boeing 747 SCA

    

    Shuttle Discovery, your chariot awaits. From NASA: "This SCA, designated NASA 905, is a Boeing 747 jet originally manufactured for commercial use, which was modified by NASA to transport the shuttles between destinations on Earth. NASA 905 is assigned to the remaining ferry missions, delivering the shuttles to their permanent public display sites."

12. No. 12 | The Shuttle, Fully Raised

    

13. No. 13 | Maneuvering the SCA

    

14. No. 14 | Looks Precarious

    

    But you know it's not.

15. No. 15 | View from the MDD

    

16. No. 16 | The SCA approaches the MDD for Mating

    

    So many acronyms. That's how you know it's a government project.

17. No. 17 | Underneath Discovery

    

18. No. 18 | Approaching the MDD and Discovery

    

19. No. 19 | The Two Craft, Now in Position

    

20. No. 20 | View From Atop the MDD With Discovery

    

21. No. 21 | Preparing to Join the Two Craft

    

22. No. 22 | Bringing the Two Together

    

    Once in position, the orbiter will be bolted to the back of the 747.

23. No. 23 | Sun on the Orbiter

    

24. No. 24 | The Pair, From Behind

    

25. No. 25 | Crews Work to Attach the Two Craft

    

26. No. 26 | Mission Complete

    

    From NASA: "At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, initial mating of space shuttle Discovery and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is complete in the mate-demate device. Known as the “soft mate,” the procedure was complete at about 11:15 a.m. EDT."

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