Space shuttle Discovery blasts off on its final flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, thundered into orbit for the final time Thursday, heading toward the International Space Station on a journey that marks the beginning of the end of the shuttle era.

The six astronauts on board, all experienced spacefliers, were thrilled to be on their way after a delay of nearly four months for fuel tank repairs. But it puts Discovery on the cusp of retirement when it returns in 11 days and eventually heads to a museum.

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"Discovery now making one last reach for the stars," the Mission Control commentator said once the shuttle cleared the launch tower.

Discovery is the oldest of NASA's three surviving space shuttles and the first to be decommissioned this year. Two missions remain, first by Atlantis and then Endeavour, to end the 30-year program.

It was Discovery's 39th launch and the 133rd shuttle mission overall.

There were several tense minutes just before liftoff when an Air Force computer problem popped up and threatened to halt everything. The issue was resolved and Discovery blasted off three minutes late, with just two seconds to spare.

"Great way to go out," said launch director Mike Leinbach. Launching late in the window like that "probably makes it a little bit more sweet."

"I would say we scripted it that way," added Mike Moses, chairman of the mission management team, "but I could use a little less heart palpitations in the final couple seconds of the countdown."

As the final minutes ticked away, commander Steven Lindsey thanked everyone for the work in getting Discovery ready.

"And for those watching," he called out, "get ready to witness the majesty and the power of Discovery as she lifts off one final time."

Emotions ran high as the shuttle rocketed off its seaside pad into a late afternoon clear blue sky, and arced out over the Atlantic on its farewell flight. Discovery will reach the space station Saturday, delivering a small chamber full of supplies and an experimental humanoid robot.

"Look forward to having company here on ISS in a couple days," station commander Scott Kelly said in a Twitter message.

The orbiting lab was soaring over the South Pacific when Discovery took off.

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Onboard TV cameras showed some pieces of foam insulation breaking off the shuttle's external fuel tank four minutes into the flight — more than usual in fact. But it shouldn't pose any safety concerns because it was late enough after liftoff, officials said.

NASA is under presidential direction to retire the shuttle fleet this summer, let private companies take over trips to orbit and focus on getting astronauts to asteroids and Mars.

An estimated 40,000 guests gathered at Kennedy Space Center to witness history in the making, including a small delegation from Congress and Florida's new Gov. Rick Scott. Discovery frenzy took over not only the launch site, but neighboring towns.

Roads leading to the launching site were jammed with cars parked two and three deep; recreational vehicles snagged prime viewing spots along the Banana River well before dawn. Businesses and governments joined in, their signs offering words of encouragement. "The heavens await Discovery," a Cocoa Beach church proclaimed. Groceries stocked up on extra red, white and blue cakes with shuttle pictures. Stores ran out of camera batteries.

The launch team also got into the act. A competition was held to craft the departing salutation from Launch Control: "The final liftoff of Discovery, a tribute to the dedication, hard work and pride of America's space shuttle team." Kennedy's public affairs office normally comes up with the parting line. Souvenir photos of Discovery were set aside for controllers in the firing room. Many posed for group shots.

Lindsey and his crew paused to take in the significance of it all, before boarding Discovery. They embraced in a group hug at the base of the launch pad.

Unlike the first try back in November, no hydrogen gas leaked during Thursday's fueling.

NASA also was confident no cracks would develop in the external fuel tank; nothing serious was spotted during the final checks at the pad. Both problems cropped up during the initial countdown in early November, and the repairs took almost four months. The cracks in the midsection of the tank, which holds instruments but no fuel, could have been dangerous.

The lengthy postponement kept one of the original crew from flying.

Astronaut Timothy Kopra, the lead spacewalker, was hurt when he wrecked his bicycle last month. Experienced spacewalker Stephen Bowen stepped in and became the first astronaut to fly back-to-back shuttle missions. Kopra watched the liftoff back in Houston; he'll help out in Mission Control during next week's two spacewalks.

Packed aboard Discovery is Robonaut 2, or R2, set to become the first humanoid robot in space. The experimental machine — looking human from the waist up — will remain boxed until after Discovery departs. Its twin was at the launch site, perched atop a rover, waving goodbye.

"I'm in space! HELLO UNIVERSE!!!" R2 announced in a tweet sent by a NASA spokeswoman.

Discovery already has 143 million miles to its credit, beginning with its first flight in 1984. By the time this mission ends, the shuttle will have tacked on another 4.5 million miles. And it will have spent 363 days in space and circled Earth 5,800 times when it returns March 7.

No other spacecraft has been launched so many times.

Discovery's list of achievements include delivering the Hubble Space Telescope to orbit, carrying the first Russian cosmonaut to launch on a U.S. spaceship, performing the first rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir with the first female shuttle pilot in the cockpit, returning Mercury astronaut John Glenn to orbit, and bringing shuttle flights back to life after the Challenger and Columbia accidents.

Discovery is expected to be eventually put on display by the Smithsonian Institution.

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