The space shuttle Discovery is due to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) in little over two hours, at 1:54 p.m. EDT (1754 GMT). The docking is being preceded by a visual inspection of the shuttle's heat shield using the Station's high-resolution cameras. As it is now customary, Discovery will do a back-flip in order for its entire surface to be photographed by the ISS crew. The photos will be analyzed carefully over the next few days by NASA engineers.

With the help of the shuttle’s robotic arm, the crew performed a limited inspection of Discovery’s thermal wings and leading edges of its wings, NASA unveiled. A more detailed inspection of the heat shield could be performed after the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) has been returned to Discovery. The OBSS is currently stowed on the International Space Station to make room for the Kibo laboratory. The lab is almost as big as a bus, and the shuttle’s robotic arm had to be taken out in order to make room for the 29,000 pounds scientific equipment.

One of the first operations on the ISS will be... well... fixing that toilet. Discovery has brought another pump that separates fluids from air in the International Space Station's only toilet. The spare part is Russian made, like the entire system, and has been shipped at the last moment from Russia packed in a diplomatic pouch. While solid disposal has been working properly, the astronauts that are stationed on the ISS have had to find other solutions for urine collection.

Commander Mark Kelly and his crew are preparing for a 14-day mission to install the new Japanese laboratory module on the International Space Station.