Shuttle Discovery make it to the space station

Space shuttle Discovery arrived at the international space station Tuesday, delivering one last set of solar wings that should boost the orbiting to full power. The two crews 10 people in all shook hands and hugged when the hatches between them swung open. Fincke paid a special welcome to newcomer Koichi Wakata. Before pulling up, commander Lee Archambault guided Discovery through a 360-degree back flip so the station astronauts could photograph its belly. Fincke said even though the station residents didn't hear the go-ahead to take pictures because of communication system trouble. The digital pictures more than 200 of them were immediately transmitted to Earth. Experts will scrutinize the images for any signs of launch damage, standard procedure following the 2003 Columbia disaster. A chunk of fuel-tank foam smacked Columbia's wing at liftoff, dooming the shuttle and its crew during reentry two weeks later. Fincke and his two station crewmates were thrilled to finally get some company. Discovery and its crew of seven were supposed to show up last month, but launch delays kept the shuttle grounded until Sunday. The postponements resulted in a shortened visit. Loaded aboard Discovery are two solar wings that will be installed at the space station later this week. The electricity-producing panels will join six others already in place four on one side and two on the other and finally make the outpost look balanced.