Nasa's Discovery space shuttle has finally taken off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The much-anticapated mission finally took to the skies to head to the International Space Station four months behind schedule.
The five-man, one-woman crew includes commander Steven Lindsey, pilot Eric Boe, spacewalkers Bowen and Alvin Drew, along with Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott.
They will spend 11 days in orbit. Two spacewalks are planned during Discovery's week long stay at the station.
The mission had encountered delays, due to problems with the ship's fuel tank, since last November.
The vessel carries a storage room for the $100-billion space station, as well as a platform to house spare parts outside the station, and equipment and supplies.
The Discovery is the first of three shuttles NASA plans to retire this year as it phases out its shuttle program.
Nasa plans to launch shuttle Endeavour on its final flight in April, and end the program with a final cargo haul to the station over the summer aboard Atlantis, though funding for that mission has not yet been allotted.
The 30-year-old shuttle program is due to end because of high operating costs. Redirected funds will help to develop rockets and spaceships that can fly beyond the station's 355-km-high orbit.
