We Have Lift-Off, Atlantis On It's Way To ISS

We Have Lift-Off, Atlantis On It's Way To ISS

www.cnn.com

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER –After two months of delay, shuttle Atlantis blasted off Thursday with Europe's gift to the international space station, a $2 billion science lab named Columbus that spent years waiting to set sail.

Atlantis and its seven-man crew roared away from their seaside launch pad at 2:45 p.m., overcoming fuel gauge problems that thwarted back-to-back launch attempts in December.

The same cold front that spawned killer tornadoes across the South earlier in the week stayed far enough away and, in the end, cut NASA a break. All week, bad weather had threatened to delay the flight, making liftoff all the sweeter for the shuttle team. The sky was cloudy at launch time, but rain and thunderstorms remained off to the west.

"All systems are go," launch director Doug Lyons told the astronauts. "I'd like to wish you a successful mission and safe return."

Replied shuttle commander Stephen Frick: "Looks like today's a good day, and we're ready to go fly."

Probably no one was happier than the 300 Europeans who gathered at the launch site to see Atlantis take off with their beloved Columbus lab.

(visit the link for the full news article)



EDIT: Title spelling

[edit on 7/2/2008 by anxietydisorder]

I'm watching CNN live right now and it looks like a good launch so far. External cameras currently show no problems with shedding foam that could damage the orbiter.

Shuttle is currently beyond the point of no return and will reach orbit. 6 1/2 minutes into flight with no problems.

www.cnn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

EDIT: Link to most recent story.
www.cnn.com...


[edit on 7/2/2008 by anxietydisorder]