Discovery returns to Earth

Discovery returns to Earth

4.05PM, Mon Jul 17 2006

Space Shuttle Discovery has landed safely at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida after a mission to the International Space Station. (Picture: Nasa)

Mission control reported a flawless landing and it was a familiar routine for those on board having practised the manoeuvre a thousand times before.

"Welcome back Discovery. Congratulations on a great mission," said astronaut Steve Frick from NASA's Mission Control at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston.

"Thanks. It was a great mission, a really great mission," said Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey.

The mission has been viewed as a success by US space agency Nasa.

The crew's mission was to test shuttle-inspection techniques, deliver supplies to the space station and drop off German astronaut Thomas Reiter for a six-month stay.