Departure Images: Discovery leaves space station

A White Dove left her nest this morning and flew off into the sunset one last time.

These real time images of space shuttle Discovery's departure of the International Space Station were as dramatic and breathtaking as the orbiter left her port-of-call beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST today.

After performing a 360-degree fly around of the complex by pilot Eric Boe, Discovery fired her jets twice and set sail upon the ocean of space to begin her final two days ever in space.

Discovery, with her payload bay now empty and her robotic arm attached to the orbiter boom sensor in the form of a "7", shown brightly in the blackness of space this morning. All images are from NASA TV.

Discovery soars over the Atlantic 650-feet from space station.

Sunrise splashes across space station as it sails near Discovery.