February 23, 2011

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NASA clears shuttle Discovery for Thursday launch

A U.S. Coat Guard boat patrols the water near the space shuttle Discovery in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to lift off Thursday afternoon on on its final voyage, an 11-day mission to the international space station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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A U.S. Coat Guard boat patrols the water near the space shuttle Discovery in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to lift off Thursday afternoon on on its final voyage, an 11-day mission to the international space station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

(AP) -- NASA has given a unanimous "go" for Thursday's planned launch of space shuttle Discovery.

It will be the final flight for Discovery, the world's most traveled rocketship.

Shuttle managers met Wednesday and agreed to proceed with the flight after a four-month delay caused by fuel tank cracks. Liftoff is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. Thursday. There's an 80 percent chance of good weather.

Six will ride Discovery up to the . They will deliver and install a closet full of space station supplies, and drop off a humanoid robot. Robonaut will become the first humanoid in space.

Discovery has already logged nearly 143 million miles, more than any other reusable spacecraft.

More information: NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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