DISCOVERY BLASTS OFF WITH BRITON ON BOARD

Space shuttle Discovery finally blasted off on Tuesday with British astronaut Piers Sellers on board. The launch had been delayed twice due to bad weather and then a crack was found in the fuel tank’s insulation, causing a further delay. Crowds, including Dr Sellers’ mum and brothers who had flown in from England, cheered as the shuttle left the Kennedy Flight Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida.