Space shuttle Discovery mounted on 747 for Smithsonian trip

(CBS/AP/WKMG) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Discovery has one last mission to complete. 

On Tuesday, the leader of NASA's retired shuttle fleet will leave its home at Kennedy Space Center for the final time. It's bolted atop a modified jumbo jet that's parked on the old shuttle landing strip. At daybreak Tuesday, the jet will take off for the Washington, D.C., area. The plane and shuttle will make a farewell flight over Cape Canaveral before heading north.

The orbiter, known as OV-103, was hoisted Sunday onto the 747 that will deliver it to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udzar-Hazy Center, the museum's annex in northern Virginia. The work had originally been scheduled for Saturday but was delayed a day due to high winds, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Space center workers posed for pictures in front of Discovery on Monday. The six astronauts who flew Discovery's final space trip a year ago also were on hand for the emotional tribute.

Discovery is the first of NASA's three remaining space shuttles to head to a museum.

NASA says, for those wishing for a glimpse, that weather permitting the modified 747 will take off at 7:00 a.m. and fly low over the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's rocket garden. After that, it will head south to Patrick Air Force Base, then head back north up the beaches toward the space center before departing the vicinity, reports WKMG.

In Washington, the public can gather on the National Mall for a shuttle sighting. Other sites include Hains Point and the Southwest Waterfront.

In Virginia, Discovery may be seen from Old Town Alexandria's Waterfront, Gravelly Point near National Airport and Long Bridge Park. In Maryland, Discovery may be seen from National Harbor.