Live in orbit: Discovery pulls away from station

Shuttle Discovery just pulled away from the International Space Station and soon will begin a looping flyaround of the growing outpost.

Undocking time: 5:32 a.m. EDT.

"Houston, Alpha, Discovery has physical separation," shuttle commander Pam Melroy said.

The spacecraft were flying 218 miles above the South Pacic at the time. In a tradition dating back to the first expedition to the station in 2000, outpost commander Peggy Whitson rang a bell inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory.

"Shuttle departing," she said.

"Discovery copies. Thanks, Peggy," Melroy replied.

"Thank you guys for the module and all your help," Whitson said.

The hourlong flyaround should afford some spectacular views of the station with Earth and black space serving as backdrops.

You can watch the action unfold here in The Flame Trench. Simply click the link below the image above to launch our NASA TV viewer and round-the-clock coverage of NASA's 120th shuttle mission, the 23rd devoted to station assembly and maintenance.