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Shuttle Discovery makes final docking at ISS

Other News Materials 27 February 2011 01:09 (UTC +04:00)

The shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station Saturday on the craft's last visit to the orbiting laboratory, dpa reported.

Its arrival marks the first time vehicles from all partner space agencies that operate spacecraft will be docked simultaneously at the ISS.

The European Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 docked with the ISS earlier Thursday, delivering a load of cargo to the astronauts just hours before the Discovery launch.

The arrival of all spacecraft at the ISS must be carefully choreographed. The ATV needed to dock before the shuttle was launched to avoid any mid-space collisions.

A Russian Soyuz craft is also docked at the station, as is a Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. The Japanese and European craft deliver goods to the station, but do not carry people, while the Soyuz brought three crew members to the ISS and will remained docked there until they make their trip back to Earth.

Discovery launched Thursday from Cape Canaveral in Florida on its last mission before being retired as NASA works to mothball the ageing shuttle fleet this year.

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