The launch date was announced after a meeting of NASA officials at the Kennedy Space Center to determine whether the orbiter and crew were ready for the 11-day mission, the space agency said.

"We're in great shape out at the pad," Launch Director Mike Leinbach told reporters.

It would be Discovery's last flight before its scheduled retirement, and the fourth and last shuttle flight of the year.

The three US shuttles are due to be sent off to become museum pieces after a last shuttle mission to the ISS in late February.

However, NASA's recently approved 2011 budget has left the door open to an additional shuttle flight in June 2011.

The Discovery crew, which includes female mission specialist Nicole Stott, will deliver a pressurized logistics module called Leonardo, which will be permanently attached to the space station to give it more storage space.

The shuttle will also bring Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, and a permanent addition to the orbiting space station, as well as spare parts.

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