The original space shuttle Discovery took its final flight today after 27 years of service and 39 spaceflights. In Senator Warner's office on Capitol Hill, we were fortunate enough to see the shuttle, attached piggy-back style to a 747, fly along the National Mall on its way to its new home at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Northern Virginia.

The Commonwealth has a long and rich history with America’s space program. Currently, Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore is home to NASA rocket launch facilities. In addition, NASA Langley in Hampton conducts aeronautical research.

Discovery will make another great addition to this strong Virginia space tradition. And, as Senator Warner put it, watching the shuttle pass over downtown Washington was just plain "awesome."