The clock is ticking as space shuttle Discovery is now ready for its ride to its new home at the Smithsonian at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Crews completed the task of installing the orbiter on top of a modified Boeing 747 this weekend.

Now the finality of it leaving a place it has called home for 30 years is truly setting in for museum life.

Monday was a day of goodbyes for those who flew on Discovery during its 39 missions, and for those who worked hard for three decades to help launch the spaceship into orbit.

The final astronaut crew of this spaceship -- STS-133 -- was on hand to talk about their memories of flying on it, and also took a group photo.

Mission Specialist Nicole Stott said she hopes Discovery's next mission in the Smithsonian will inspire generations to come.

“When I think about Discovery, I think about all the people associated with it too,” Stott said. “Kind of a heart and soul thin.”

“When I see Discovery, I see the people. And the shuttle team we had. The triumphs and the tragedies,” said Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey.

The orbiter was placed atop the 747 Sunday after winds forced crews to delay the work from Saturday.

A special crane was used to hoist Discovery atop the large plane, and was rolled out from underneath Monday.

Together, the pair weighs more than 500,000 pounds.

Once it takes off, this shuttle will be bound for a new home.

“My hope is that people will continue to be impressed by Discovery and the other vehicles, because if we continue to challenge ourselves, cool stuff like that happens,” Stott said.

The piggyback ride takes to the skies at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

It will be a treat for onlookers along the Brevard coast as it will fly down towards Cocoa Beach, Patrick Air Force Base and back up towards Kennedy Space Center before it heads off north.

The STS-133 crew will also be at the shuttle landing facility to see Discovery off, along with many NASA and contract workers at KSC that worked on the orbiter.

Discovery is the first orbiter to leave KSC for museum life.

Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to move to its head to its new home at the California Science Center, in Los Angeles, in September.

Atlantis will stay in Florida. That shuttle is scheduled to make a short trip to the KSC Visitor Complex in 2013.