Photo by heathermg

UPDATE: Space shuttle Discovery has landed safely at 11:57:17 a.m. Next mission: Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum

Just a few moments ago, the space shuttle Discovery started experiencing the first effects of re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere as it returns from its latest mission — its last re-entry before being decommissioned and mothballed. Just 15 minutes away from its last touchdown at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the shuttle Discovery will then be sent to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center. For the space geeks in our city, this mission holds particular interest since local boy, Alvin Drew, is aboard, having done maintenance work on the International Space Station.

Listen and watch the landing, scheduled to occur at 11:57 a.m. EST, from the control center on SpaceFlight Now, or read the less-than-instantaneous play-by-play on NASA’s twitter.