US space shuttle Endeavour blasted off with seven astronauts aboard from
Florida last night on a mission of "extreme home improvement" for the
International Space Station, according to NASA TV.
With a beautiful orange full moon as backdrop, Endeavour lifted off at 7:55
p.m. EST (0055 GMT on Saturday) from the Kennedy Space Center. The launch
countdown went smoothly, without any technical issues popping out. The weather
around the space center was also cooperative.
"Good luck, Godspeed and have happy Thanksgiving in orbit," launch director
Mike Leinbach told the astronauts minutes before liftoff.
The shuttle will scuttle in space for two days before it arrives at the space
station. It was carrying about 32,000 pounds in its payload bay, including
supplies and equipment necessary to double the station's crew size from three to
six by spring next year.
This time, Endeavour will deliver a new flight engineer, SandraMagnus, 44, to
join the Expedition 18 crew aboard the station, and bring back flight engineer
Greg Chamitoff to Earth after more thanfive months in space.
Endeavour's flight will also feature important repair work outside of the
station. The 15-day flight with its four planned spacewalks will primarily focus
on servicing the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar
arrays to track the sun.
