Related: Rollout of space shuttle Discovery delayed by minor flaw

Discovery rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 2:04 p.m. EDT to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

    BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Discovery rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 2:04 p.m. EDT to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

    Discovery, with its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank attached to its belly, was moved to the launch pad in preparation for the first shuttle flight since the Columbia accident 26 months ago. 

    The 4.2-mile trip to the coastal Florida facility on a 2,700- ton, double-tracked transport vehicle will take about seven hours, according to the reports of Bloomberg via NASA.

    The date of launch period for Discovery runs from May 15 to June 3, subjecting to change should technical problems arise.

(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

    "It's a great sight to see Discovery rolling out to the launch pad," said Eileen Collins, commander of the shuttle's five-man, two-woman crew. "We know we are getting close."

    The rollout was briefly delayed Wednesday because of a hairline crack found in the foam insulation on the ship's external fuel tank.

    An independent group tracking the space agency's compliance with the findings of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board has not completed its final assessment.

    Earlier this week, Bill Parsons, NASA's shuttle program manager, said there was a "50-50" chance of a delay.

    "There is not much left to be done. We're making the final checks and waiting for everyone to be comfortable the vehicle is ready to go," said astronaut Steve Robinson, who is preparing for his third flight aboard Discovery. "She's an old friend to me, and I just can't wait to see her in the daylight with her nose pointed toward the stars." Enditem

    (Agencies)