WASHINGTON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Space Shuttle Discovery lands safely at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 GMT) Monday, after completing a 13-day flight mission, NASA television showed.

"Welcome back Discovery and congratulations on a great mission," Mission Control told Commander Steve Lindsey after Discovery rolled to a stop.

"It was a great mission. A really great mission," Lindsey replied.

The mission, designated STS-121, marks a critical step for the U.S. space program's recovery from the 2003 Columbia disaster.

The mission delivered a new Expedition 13 crew member and much needed supplies and equipment to the international outpost. The shuttle crew also conducted three space walks to perform maintenance on the station and to test on-orbit heat shield repair techniques.

Outside experts say Discovery's performance allows the shuttle program to return to its old job before Columbia shattered in pieces on its return in 2003, killing seven astronauts. NASA's mission is to finish building the international space station with a flurry of 15 more shuttle flights.

"We're going in the right direction," lead flight controller Tony Ceccacci said, adding "It's time to get going and start building the station." Enditem