Nasa picks Thursday for final Discovery launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Nasa will try to launch space shuttle Discovery next week following a four-month delay.

Discovery's final liftoff is set for Thursday afternoon. Senior managers voted unanimously Friday on the new launch date.

Discovery has been grounded since the beginning of November. Cracks in the external fuel tank were discovered following a launch attempt that was foiled by leaking hydrogen gas. It's taken this long to understand and repair the cracking.

Discovery will carry six astronauts and a humanoid robot, along with a full load of supplies, to the International Space Station. One of the human crew is a substitute, replacing an astronaut who was injured last month in a bicycle crash.

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