Discovery Preparing to Meet Space Station

The crew of the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery was preparing Sunday for its rendezvous with the International Space Station.

NASA said the crew was inspecting the shuttle’s heat shield for any possible damage from Saturday’s launch, and preparing tools necessary for the rendezvous.

The check of the heat shield was being done with a robotic arm and a boom extension sensor system.

Discovery is on a mission to deliver a new crew member and a new piece for the space station’s integrated truss structure.

NASA said the shuttle astronauts would also test the spacesuits they will use while installing the truss and rewiring the station’s electrical system.