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NASA’s space shuttle, Discovery, has reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, after completing its two days of journey.
The space shuttle was docked softly on ISS at 8.54 p.m. by Commander Rick Sturckow using the reaction control system of the space shuttle.
A NASA TV commentator has revealed that the soft docking was "smooth-as-silk".
"Both vehicles at free drift, all thrusts disabled," he added.
The hatches between the two spacecraft will be opened at 10.59 p.m. (0259 GMT Monday)
Discovery mission specialist Nicole Stott and station Flight Engineer Tim Kopra will exchange Soyuz seat liners and titles, as Stott becomes a station flight engineer and Kopra a shuttle mission specialist, after 30 minutes.
It will spend more than a week at the orbiting complex. Three spacewalks, for replacing the ammonium tank and other maintenance works, will be conducted by the astronauts.
