Awwal 22, 1432 H/Feb 25, 2011, SPA -- Space shuttle Discovery took off from the Florida launch site on Thursday making its final voyage into space, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said. Six astronauts are on board the world's most traveled spaceship, and they are headed for the International Space Station after a four-month delay for fuel tank repairs. Launch director Mike Leinbach anticipated it would be “tough” to see Discovery take off for the 39th and final time, and even harder when it returns March 7. “It is a very, very personal thing that we love to do,” Leinbach said. “It is a lot more than just our livelihood. It gets in our soul.” Discovery should reach the space station Saturday, where it will deliver supplies as well as the first humanoid robot to fly in space.
