NASA has finally launched its space shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with seven astronauts on board.
The 13-day flight aims to deliver new laboratory equipment, supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station.
Technicians began pumping more than 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into Discovery's fuel tank on Friday afternoon for a third launch attempt.
The mission, the 128th in the shuttle program history, had been on hold since Tuesday because of poor weather and a technical issue concerning a drain valve in the ship's fuel tank.
The Discovery is carrying more than seven tons of science instruments, food, supplies and spare parts for the station, which is nearing completion after over a decade of work 220 miles above Earth.
The US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada will have spent about $100 billion (£61.2 billion) on the outpost by the time it is finished late next year or early 2011.
NASA then plans to retire its shuttle fleet and rely on its partners and commercial carriers to ferry cargo to the outpost.
Posted via web from Michael's
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