Carl Sagan

On this day in 1984 the space shuttle Discovery takes off on its maiden voyage. Discover class at Academy of Shaolin Kung Fu in Newport at 7pm tonight and see what incredible things are waiting for you there!

Over 27 years of service Discovery launched and landed 39 times, gathering more spaceflights than any other spacecraft to date. Its work included many satellite launches, ISS crew rotations, and even the launch and service of the Hubble Space Telescope. It carried the first female shuttle pilot, the first Russian launched in an American spacecraft, and the C.O.L.B.E.R.T. treadmill named after Stephen Colbert.