Discovery docks after 'backflip'

[OXO]

Discovery docks after 'backflip'

The space shuttle Discovery has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) after a two-day trip from Earth.

It arrived at the orbital outpost at 1052 EDT (1452 GMT) carrying equipment, supplies and a fresh astronaut.

The spacecraft performed a "backflip" before docking to enable the ISS crew to inspect the ceramic tiles on the ship's under-belly.

These tiles form part of the shuttle's heatshield, vital for protecting the craft on its fiery descent to Earth.

DISCOVERY SHUTTLE FLIGHT

Space shuttle (Image: BBC)

Mission known as STS-121

Discovery's 32nd flight

18th orbiter flight to ISS

Lift-off: 1438 EDT, 4 July

Location: Kennedy Space Center, Launch Pad 39B

Objective: To test new safety equipment and procedures

Payload: Cargo bay has 12.75t of equipment and supplies

Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson, Sellers, Reiter

Sellers ready for 'big walk'

Commander Steve Lindsey took manual control of Discovery about 300 metres (1,000 feet) from the space station.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5154396.stm

[daz]

and a fresh astronaut.

The old one was starting to hum a bit!!

[sorry!]