Thursday, February 24, 2011

Shuttle Discovery sets out on last voyage

The US Discovery has launched from the Kennedy Space Center for the last time.

The orbiter roared into a bright blue Florida sky, leaving the pad at 1650 local time (2150 GMT).

Its 11-day mission will see it deliver a new store room and a sophisticated humanoid robot to the International Space Station (ISS).

Only two further flights remain after this one, by Endeavour and Atlantis. Nasa is trying to get these missions concluded in the coming months.

The orbiter fleet is then expected to retire to museums.

Discovery should take eight and a half minutes to climb to orbit.

A further two days' travel is required to chase down and dock with the ISS, which circles 350km above the Earth.

Discovery carries a crew of six – Commander Steve Lindsey, pilot Eric Boe; and mission specialists Alvin Drew, Michael Barratt, Nicole Stott and Steve Bowen.