Shuttle Discovery Launch Successful!

It was a momentous occasion last night, Saturday December 9, 2006 in Cape Canaveral, Florida at the Kennedy Space Center for NASA. Space shuttle Discovery rumbled into orbit after a two-day postponement. The crew's crucial mission is to complete electronic rewiring of the international space station, transport a new two-ton addition to the space lab and trade one of the station crew members.

This launch is the first night launch for NASA since 2002. 8:47:35 PM was the magical time when liftoff began; Discovery started its ascent into space. The amazing 4.5 million pound Discovery's flames were visible for miles and miles. Three liquid filled main engines fueled Discovery for this takeoff into the night sky.

It was considered a smooth takeoff. The two rocket boosters successfully separated from the shuttle two minutes after blastoff. Cameras attached to the shuttle monitored the thermal insulation watching for debris or break off. Break off of insulating foam led to the demise of Columbia back in 2003. Once in space, a more extensive examination of the shuttle will evaluate the exterior of the shuttle to account for any damage.

The seven astronauts on this mission include: Commander Mark Polansky, pilot Bill Oefelein, flight engineer Bob Curbeam and Nick Patrick, mission specialists Christer Fuglesang, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams. Sunita Williams will take European Space Agency Astronaut Thomas Reiter's place as one of the three station crew members as Mr. Reiter will return to Earth on Discovery.

This mission is considered by NASA to be the most complex to date. There will be three space walks at the international space station to complete the goals of the mission. They will be rewiring the station as well as installing a new truss segment to the international space station. Trusses have been systematically added to further expand the space station. NASA anticipates the completion of the international space station over the next four years to meet the deadline set by the Bush administration to finish the station.

Discovery will make its return prior to the New Year. During this time they will be in our thoughts and prayers for a successful mission!