NASA to retire shuttle fleet after two more flights * Discovery hauling cargo to International Space Station * Launch nearly canceled by range safety computer glitch (Updates with details on foam loss, quotes) By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Space shuttle Discovery blasted off for the last time Thursday, carrying six astronauts and carting a load of supplies, spare parts and a robot for the International Space Station. The shuttle lifted off at 4:53 p.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center, riding a flame-tipped pillar of smoke across the Atlantic Ocean as it soared through partly cloudy skies toward space. The launch was delayed three minutes due to a glitch with a range safety computer minutes before the scheduled 4:50 p.m. EST liftoff. The problem was resolved with seconds to spare.
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