Piece of Mann nears end of space trip

The space shuttle Discovery is returning to Earth today (Wednesday) with a small part of the Isle of Man aboard.

The piece of Tynwald Hill was taken into space by Nicole Stott, wife of Manxman Chris Stott, the government's honorary representative to the space community.

Because Tynwald Hill is made up of earth from each of the Island's 17 parishes, it means a symbolic piece of Mann has spent almost a fortnight in space.

Nicole and the other five NASA astronauts will return to Earth later, and while Discovery will go into retirement, the spacefaring soil will go on display when it returns to the Island.