DISCOVERY and seven astronauts rocketed into orbit yesterday on one of Nasa’s final stockpiling missions to the International Space Station, its takeoff flames bringing an early dawn to the coast with this last scheduled shuttle launch in darkness.

Space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts blazed into orbit on a spectacular midnight flight to the international space station, transporting a treadmill named after a TV comedian, mice and thousands of pounds of more solemn supplies.

Thunderstorms forced Nasa to call off space shuttle Discovery’s launch today.

After more than a month’s delay, space shuttle Endeavour and seven astronauts thundered into orbit on a flight to the international space station, hauling up a veranda for Japan’s enormous lab and looking to set a crowd record.