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Discovery Roars to Space Station Docking

Massive main thrusters used after leak in smaller thrusters

By Mat Probasco, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2009 2:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – The space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station in impressive style yesterday, using the space ship's massive main thrusters instead of the six smaller thrusters typically engaged, reports Space.com. A leak in one of the smaller maneuvering thrusters forced astronauts to use the noisy big engines to dock—a first for a NASA mission.

Commander Rick Sturckow, who had trained to dock using the big thrusters, docked the shuttle with the space station as both spacecraft flew more than 200 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. To make the job even harder, the space station was about one degree out of position. The 13-day mission will deliver 15,200 pounds of science gear.

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Discovery streaks across the sky as it clears a cloud bank over Florida. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., last week. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Mission Specialist Danny Olivas and Flight Engineer Nicole Stott wave as they leave the Operations and Checkout building with fellow crew members last week. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Space shuttle Discovery launches at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a mission to the International Space Station, on Friday. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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"It's a noticeable, maybe even impressive, event."
- deputy shuttle program manager LeRoy Cain on docking with the main thrusters

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Discovery Roars to Space Station Docking