Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew blasted off Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center right on time tonight, headed for a vital resupply and upgrade mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The brilliant launch was the 3lst night launch in the space shuttle program.
There were a few tense moments when flight controllers realized that a pin securing a door in the interior of the white room had not been secured. That meant that the door was free to flop around.
After a quick review, launch managers determined that the door was not a debris hazard. Experts declared that the vibrations as the shuttle blasted past the retracted white room gangway would not be sufficient to break the door free.
The shuttle, which launched at 7:55 p.m. EST, is carrying vital upgrades for the space station. The mission, which will extend over Thanksgiving, will include four spacewalks.
Here's a list of previous Endeavour missions.
STS-49 - 1992
STS-47 - 1993
STS-54 - 1993
STS-57 - 1993
STS-61 - 1993
STS-59 - 1994
STS-68 - 1994
STS-67 - 1995
STS-69 - 1995
STS-72 - 1995
STS-77 - 1996
STS-89 - 1998
STS-88 - 1998
STS-99 - 2000
STS-97 - 2000
STS-100 - 2001
STS-108 - 2001
STS-111 - 2002
STS-113 - 2002
STS-118 - 2007
STS-123 - 2008
Image: Endeavour lights up the night sky. Credit/NASA
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