#sts 131

Space shuttle Discovery imaged on approach to the International Space Station during STS-131 by a member of the Expedition 23 crew, 7 April 2010. Note the Soyuz in the foreground and Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo in the shuttle cargo bay.

STS-131 was notable for several reasons, such as being the last shuttle flight to carry rookie astronauts, the last shuttle flight to carry seven crew members, the first time multiple Japanese astronauts were on orbit, and the last shuttle flight to carry three female astronauts.

This was the longest and penultimate flight of space shuttle Discovery.

The three main engines of space shuttle Discovery is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 23 crew member during a backflip maneuver performed as the shuttle approaches the International Space Station. Docking occurred at 2:44 a.m. (CDT) on April 7, 2010.

The space shuttle Discovery flies with its payload bay facing Earth so that the astronauts and cosmonauts onboard the International Space Station could survey and photograph it following the relative separation of the two spacecraft on April 17.

At the Station

This partial view of the starboard wing of the space shuttle Discovery was provided by an Expedition 23 crew member during a survey of the approaching STS-131 vehicle prior to docking with the International Space Station.