Today: See Discovery Shuttle's Last Flight

The Space Shuttle Discovery, the oldest surviving space shuttle, is expected to take its last flight Tuesday, landing at Dulles Airport in preparation for display at the Smithsonian's 's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.

Discovery first launched on Aug. 30, 1984, on a mission to deploy three communications satellites. It was NASA's third space shuttle orbiter. It has completed more than 30 successful missions—more than any other orbiter in NASA's fleet. Its missions included carrying the Hubble Space Telescope into space in 1990 and two subsequent times to service the telescope.

The Discovery, atop a Boeing 747 modified as a shuttle carrier, will leave the Kennedy Space Center around dawn Tuesday and will likely arrive in the Washington area between 10 and 11 a.m.

The exact route and timing of the flight are purposely being kept vague. But the Smithsonian has offered some good viewing places in Virginia, including

• Long Bridge Park, 475 Long Bridge Dr. in Arlington
• Old Town Alexandria waterfront
• Gravelly Point, just off the George Washington Parkway, near National Airport

For a close-up view as the carrier approaches Dulles Airport, the museum suggests shuttle spotters gather at it the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center parking lot. The lot will open at 8 a.m. Cost is $15.

Traffic

Fairfax County Police are preparing for congestion on Route 28 and surrounding areas on Tuesday, as thousands drive in to catch a glimpse of the space shuttle.

"We do expect heavy traffic on Route 28 and there may be intermittent closures that police will be on hand to assist with," said Lucy Caldwell, a public information officer for the Fairfax County Police Department.

Police expect that parking at the National Air and Space Museum's in Chantilly will be filled to capacity. Traffic officers will be on hand to assist with closing and reopening.

The county will use the emergency alert system to communicate with the public when necessary. Fairfax County Police recommend that those driving who want to catch a glimpse of Discovery pull over in a spot that is safe for viewing.

"If you're commuting, just be aware that this will most likely affect traffic," Caldwell said.

There will be several opportunities to see and celebrate the shuttle and its history over the course of the week. For a full schedule, click here.