The space shuttle Discovery returned safely to Earth on Tuesday morning.

The shuttle containing its crew of seven astronauts came in for a smooth landing at Florida's Kennedy Space Center with shuttle commander Capt. Alan Poindexter, U.S.N., at the controls.

"It was a great mission. We enjoyed it," Poindexter said. "And we're glad that the International Space Station is stocked up again."

Their arrival was put on hold by rain and fog that popped up right before daybreak. However, the sky eventually cleared just before dawn.

The 15-day, six million-mile journey to the International Space Station wrapped up with a rare flyover of America's heartland. The shuttle traveled from Washington State, then across the middle of the country, and then on down to land in Florida.

The mission was Discovery's next-to-last flight. The shuttle's final flight is scheduled for September.