Discovery arrives at space station

Space shuttle Discovery has arrived at the international space station bringing three new residents to the 240 mile high outpost.

The shuttle docked as the spacecraft soared over Australia's north western corner.

Inside space station Alpha, the crew floated to the strains of Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz - just like in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Discovery is serving as a taxi this week. It is dropping off American astronaut Frank Culbertson and his Russian crew for a four-month stay and picking up Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev and his US crew following a five-month stay.

They will swap places tomorrow.

Culbertson, the space station's next commander, was eager to arrive at his new home.

He spotted the twinkling complex from 50 miles away and said it was "a fabulous view."

"We're all standing by ready to start moving stuff your way - and ourselves," Culbertson said from Discovery as the shuttle pulled closer.

"Can't wait to see you guys," replied space station astronaut Jim Voss.

Culbertson will move into the space station with Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin, and stay until December.