Article Posted on : - Nov 15, 2008

Blazing light surrounds space shuttle Endeavour, eclipsing the light from the nearby full moon, as it roars into space from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7.55 pm EST on Friday, Nov 14. Photo NASA/Troy Cryder

WASHINGTON DC (BNS): On its mission to repair and remodel the International Space Station, shuttle Endeavour’s STS-126 mission with seven crew members aboard lifted off into the night sky from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 7.55pm EST on Friday.

The perfect lift off was preceded by moments of tension, as NASA almost called off the much-anticipated mission. It was discovered moments before the take off that a worker had forgotten to fasten a doorframe on the pad.

After much deliberation and uncertainties, the NASA launch controllers decided that it would not pose a problem. The worker admitted to the mistake and would not be punished, launch director Mike Leinbach said.

Meanwhile, onlookers enjoyed the nighttime launch. Only very few shuttle flights are launched in darkness and Endeavour launch was a spectacular show. The full moonrise that preceded the launch provided a breathtaking backdrop to Endeavour’s zoom into the sky. The shuttle was visible for more than three minutes, resembling a bright star until it vanished.

Endeavour is carrying to space about 32,000 pounds of items, which includes supplies and equipment necessary to double the crew size of ISS from three to six members in the spring of 2009.

The new station cargo includes additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet, a water reclamation system and a resistance exercise device. Endeavour is expected to reach the spacer station on Sunday.

NASA said that the mission's four planned spacewalks primarily would focus on servicing the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ), which allow the outpost's solar arrays to track the Sun. The starboard SARJ has had limited use since September 2007, NASA said.

Speaking to the media before the launch, Commander Chris Ferguson thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible. “It's our turn to take home improvement to a new level after 10 years of International Space Station construction. Endeavour is good to go,” he said.

Joining Ferguson on Endeavour's 15-day flight are Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Donald Pettit, Steve Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Shane Kimbrough and Sandra Magnus. Magnus will replace current station crew member Greg Chamitoff, who has lived on the outpost since June. She will return to Earth on Discovery's STS-119 mission, targeted for February 2009.

Before the shuttle took off, Leinbach wished the seven astronauts good luck, Godspeed, and a Happy Thanksgiving on orbit.

NASA said that the shuttle holds enough irradiated Thanksgiving turkey dinners for everyone, with plenty of space-style candied yams, corn bread stuffing and cranberry-apple dessert.