NASA: Discovery docks successfully with ISS

by Rich Bowden - Mar 17 2009, 20:23

NASA's space shuttle Discovery docked successfully with the International Space Station (ISS) at around 17:19 EDT on Tuesday night.

Prior to the docking, Discovery captain Lee Archambault led the craft in an intricate backflip -- known as a Rendezvous Pitch Manoeuvre (RPM) -- to position the shuttle ready for its approach to the ISS.

As the RPM was being carried out, the shuttle's heat shield was exposed to the space station and ISS crew members Mike Fincke and Sandra Magnus took the opportunity to monitor and photograph the shield for any damage that may have occurred during launch.

Other than running approximately 10 minutes behind schedule, Discovery's contact with the space station went according to plan.

"At 5:19:53 p.m. EDT, Space shuttle Discovery docked to the International Space Station's Harmony module. Docking occurred over Australia," said NASA, adding that all was going to plan.

Earlier NASA announced that space debris that had been detected near the space station was not dangerous to either the shuttle or the station itself and a planned course alteration for the docking was not necessary.

The STS-119 mission will deliver the final of a series of solar arrays to the space station, which will provide one fourth of the power needed to support the ISS, said NASA. Discovery will also deliver water recycling equipment and drop off a new crew member, Koichi Wakata, who will become the first Japanese astronaut to live aboard the station.

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