Categories: Space ExplorationSpace FlightSpace Shuttle

STS-133 Launch Day Gallery

Discovery just moments after her final liftoff. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

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Here’s a collection of images from the historic final launch of space shuttle Discovery on February 24, 2011.

Discovery's final launch. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Just after SRB light. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Discovery just after liftoff. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Space shuttle Discovery heads to space after lifting off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin its final flight to the International Space Station on the STS-133 mission. Launch was at 4:53 p.m. EST. Credit: NASA

STS-134 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

STS-133 launch as seen from the KSC press site. Credit: Jason Rhian

NASA management watch the launch of space shuttle Discovery (STS-133) from the firing room at Kennedy Space Center, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

In Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson, left, STS-133 Assistant Shuttle Launch Director and lead NASA Test Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach watch space shuttle Discovery blaze a trail of smoke and steam as it heads toward orbit on the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

Main engine start. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

View from the KSC press site of the STS-133 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

STS-133 launch, just before solid rocket booster separation. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

STS-133 launch. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

A closeup of Discovery in flight. Credit: NASA

The STS-133 crew walks out to head to the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

The STS-133 crew in front of the 'Astro Van' that brings them to the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Astronaut Leland Melvin talks with participants in the NASA Tweetup for STS-133 at KSC before the launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

Members of the NASA Tweetup for STS-133 gather for a photo. They finally got to see their mission launch, after waiting nearly four months. Surprisingly, over 100 of the original 150 were able to return on Feb. 24 for the launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

The media descends on KSC for the STS-133 launch. Credit: Nancy Atkinson

The twin brother of the R2 Robonaut awaits launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission, its 39th and final fligh to space. Credit: Ken Kremer

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. Image credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller Feb. 23, 2011

Discovery bathed in lights after the RSS was retracted on Feb. 23, 2011. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

The crew of STS-133 stands in front of Discovery on the launchpad. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today.

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy has been with Universe Today since 2004, and has published over 6,000 articles on space exploration, astronomy, science and technology. She is the author of two books: "Eight Years to the Moon: the History of the Apollo Missions," (2019) which shares the stories of 60 engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make landing on the Moon possible; and "Incredible Stories from Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos" (2016) tells the stories of those who work on NASA's robotic missions to explore the Solar System and beyond. Follow Nancy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Nancy_A and and Instagram at and https://www.instagram.com/nancyatkinson_ut/