It flew more missions than any other space shuttle and now the Discovery is taking its final trip through the skies. 

The country watched the final 'launch' of the Discovery as NASA closed its last chapter of the shuttle's mission to space.

But now the Discovery is starting a new mission.

It's becoming the newest icon at the National Air and Space Museum.

Curator Valerie Neal says this museum is a perfect choice.

"It's so rich with history that it is especially appropriate that it's here in the Smithsonian," Neal said.

The Discovery's rich history includes 39 missions, the most crew members of any other shuttle and if you combine all the time it spent in space, it adds up to one year.