For
THE first time
IN four years, a shuttle launch lit up
THE night sky over Cape Canaveral, FL as Discovery successfully lifted off on Saturday evening on a mission
TO the International Space Station.
Discovery's crew is part
OF a three-year race
TO complete renovations on
THE space station before
THE shuttle fleet is retired
IN 2010. NASA plans on sending 13 additional flights
TO complete
THE work. This time, Discovery is tasked with rewiring
THE station, delivering an $11 million add-on
TO the space lab
AND bringing home German astronaut Thomas Reiter. Reiter will
BE replaced by American Sunita Williams, who will
BE enjoying a lovely six-month stint
IN the close quarters of
THE station.
NASA has launched 117 shuttle missions, but only 29 have
BEEN at night. This is
THE first launch since
THE Columbia disaster
TO go up at night -- NASA needed daylight on
THE last three
SO they could photographically examine any damage
TO the fuel tanks after liftoff, a situation which caused Columbia
TO break up upon re-entry
IN 2003.