Photo credit: (NASA)
The SCA is a Boeing 747 jet, which was modified by NASA to transport the shuttles between destinations on Earth. The SCA designated NASA 905 is assigned to the remaining ferry missions, delivering the shuttles to their permanent public display sites. NASA 905 ferried Discovery to the Dulles International Airport in Virginia on April 17, 2012.
Discovery Soft Mated to SCA
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is positioned beneath space shuttle Discovery in the mate-demate device at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery is being lowered and mated to the aircraft in preparation for its departure on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The device, known as the MDD, is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it onto the back of the aircraft, or SCA.