Heads up, Senators and Obamas!

A space shuttle is coming your way.

On Tuesday, April 17, at 7 a.m., Space shuttle Discovery will leave the Space Coast on the back of a NASA-modified 747 jumbo jet (photo, right). Its destination? The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, in Washington, D.C. (ETA 5:30 p.m.).

So, if you are in our Nation's Capital on that day, you might see something bizarre in the sky.

NASA announced Monday that the shuttle will fly above various parts of Washington, at a very low altitude (1,500 feet). The exact route is TBD, but NASA officials say the flight path includes the National Mall, National Harbor and Reagan National Airport. Then, the shuttle will land at Dulles International Airport for transfer to the Smithsonian. 

An arrival ceremony -- and a four-day festival -- will commemorate the shuttle's arrival. So, get out those astronaut suits, Star Wars outfits and martian costumes, folks!

We're assuming the is the first and last time an R2D2 getup will be appropriate on Capitol Hill.

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Did you know? ...The Smithsonian currently houses prototype space shuttle Enterprise, which will be moved to New York City later this month to make room for Discovery. Endeavour is scheduled to head to the California Science Center, in Los Angeles, in September. And, Atlantis, which is now near Orlando will make its trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 2013.