The International Space Station viewed from the shuttle

Until the problem was fixed, Discovery had to sit at least 120 metres (400 feet) from the station for fear that its thrusters might damage the fragile wing if it was loose.

But after repeatedly opening and closing the latches, flight controllers managed to lock the wing and Discovery was cleared to dock.

The new ISS crew, referred to as Expedition Two, includes two Americans, Susan Helms and James Voss, and their Russian commander Yury Usachev.

They are taking over from Expedition One - American Bill Shepherd and Russians Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev - who have been living on the platform for nearly five months.

Two spacewalks outside the ISS will be performed during the course of the Discovery mission, as astronauts work to equip a recently installed US research laboratory called Destiny.

The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, an aluminium canister loaded with almost five tonnes of equipment, systems and science racks for transfer to Destiny, will be attached to the ISS early next week.

Other work will prepare way for the April installation of a giant robotic arm on the platform.