Discovery into the International Space Station

On October 25, Discovery shuttle went to the International Space Station (International Space Station - ISS) after a two-day journey, after which the ship successfully connected to the Station to begin the installation task. Harmony module, future connection port for European laboratory and Japanese module.

The time when astronauts came from Discovery to the Station meant a lot for mankind's 50-year history of discovering the universe when, for the first time, two women in charge of command met.

It's Space Shuttle Commander Discovery Pamela Melroy (second female commander in the space shuttle history, before Pamela Melroy is retired astronaut Eileen Collins) and the first female commander of the Space Station International, Peggy Whitson.

The historical moment of the meeting on the International Space Station between the two female commanders: commander of the ISS Station (Group 16) Peggy Whitson (left) and Discovery flight commander STS-120 Pam Melroy (Photo: AFP )

Earlier, on October 23, Discovery ship left the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, three minutes later the ship had reached nearly 7,000 km / hour; after 10 minutes, Discovery flew into orbit and 7 astronauts began to live in weightless condition.

This mission-carrying crew, STS-120, will install additional equipment for the ISS Station, including a module the size of a small bus (about 7m long) made by Italy named Harmony . The European Columbus lab is intended to be delivered by the Atlantis spacecraft to the ISS Station on June 6, while the Kibo module of Japan will be connected to the Station early next year.

(Photo: Space)