MISSION CONTROL, Korolev, July 28 (RIA Novosti) - Discovery's crew has opened its hatch and entered the International Space Station (ISS).
The Discovery shuttle docked with the ISS at 15:17 Moscow time.
The shuttle's crew consists of seven people, led by U.S. astronaut Eileen Collins.
Also on board the Discovery is Soichi Noguchi from the Japanese space agency JAXA.
A crew consisting of Russian astronaut Sergei Krikalev and U.S. astronaut John Phillips is already working at the ISS, bringing the total count to nine astronauts in the station.
Discovery was launched on July 26 at 10:39 EST (18:39 Moscow time).
During trips outside the craft, the astronauts will change the ISS gyroscope, check for damage to the Discovery's shielding tiles, and test new technology aimed at improving the safety of multi-flight shuttles.
The Discovery will return to earth with its crew on August 7. It will land at Cape Canaveral Space Center in Florida.
