Space Shuttle Discovery Blasted Into History 25 Years Ago on STS-105 Mission

BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – Space Shuttle Discovery soared into the evening sky 25 years ago today, reaching supersonic speed just 42 seconds after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center.

The launch marked the beginning of STS-105, a 12-day mission supporting the continued development and operation of the International Space Station.

Discovery carried two members of the Expedition 3 crew to the orbiting laboratory, along with approximately 7,000 pounds of supplies, equipment and scientific experiments.

The mission played an important role in maintaining a continuous human presence aboard the space station, delivering fresh personnel and critical materials needed for research and daily operations in orbit.

Discovery’s launch also provided another memorable moment for Florida’s Space Coast, as the shuttle illuminated the evening sky and thundered away from Kennedy Space Center.

A quarter-century later, STS-105 remains part of Discovery’s remarkable legacy and Brevard County’s enduring place at the center of American human spaceflight.