Space shuttle launch perfect: Endeavour soars on mission to space station

November 14, 8:29 PMSpace News ExaminerPatricia Phillips

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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 beautiful picture of a bright orange full moon rising over the launch pad during the countdown.

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