Discovery shuttle docks with ISS space station - Summary

Washington- The US space shuttle Discovery completed docking operations with the International Space Station Wednesday morning, starting nine days where the two will be conjoined in orbit.

The docking occurred at 0744 GMT, completed successfully despite the Discovery's loss of an antenna normally used in docking procedures. However, the vessel carries redundant systems, which prevented any major problems.

The Discovery took off Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with seven astronauts on board for a planned 13-day flight, which is to be followed by only three more shuttle missions before the aging fleet of spacecraft is retired.

The US space agency NASA's goal is to retire the shuttles by September, but routine delays caused by weather and technical problems could put the final flight into early 2011.

Discovery is carrying more than 12 tons of equipment. Much of the load is destined for research, and NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has nicknamed the mission "Experiment Express."

Discovery is carrying the Italian-built Leonardo container, which has been loaded with a small fitness studio for the space station crew, an observation module with cameras and sensors, and numerous scientific instruments for experiments.

On arrival at the space station, Leonardo is to be removed from the shuttle and parked outside for unloading during the nine days before Discovery is to decouple from the space station for its return flight.

Three spacewalks are planned, each for more than six hours. Tasks include detaching a Japanese experimental apparatus now mounted on the outside frame of the station and bringing it inside.

Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth on April 18.

After the shuttle program ends, the only transport for astronauts to the space station will be Russia's Soyuz capsules. Russia operates unmanned cargo spacecraft separately from human transports, but those vessels can carry only a fraction of the shuttle's payload.

On Friday, a Soyuz launched from the Russian Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with one US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts on board. The crew of three docked Sunday with the space station to begin six months there.

The final shuttle missions are carrying as many heavy replacement parts and instruments as possible to the space station.

Chronic problems with fuel tanks and sensors have often delayed takeoff of the three remaining craft - Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavor. Two shuttles, Colombia and Challenger, exploded during re- entry and takeoff, respectively, killing all astronauts on board.

The shuttles have been flying for three decades.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/317451,discovery-shuttle-docks-with-iss-space-station--summary.html.