[sarex] STS-118 LIFTS OFF

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Endeavour Lifts Off! *
*Launch Date:* Aug. 8
*Launch Time:* 6:36 p.m. EDT


Image above: Space Shuttle Endeavour during liftoff. Photo credit: NASA

*08.08.07 - 7:35 p.m. EDT*
NASA's Administrator and top launch managers celebrated the flawless 
liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour Wednesday evening as the fulfillment 
of a legacy.

"A launch operation doesn't get any better than this, it can't," 
Administrator Mike Griffin said following the launch.
+ View Launch Video 
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The flight placed seven astronauts, a space station segment and 5,800 
pounds of cargo and supplies into orbit and on the way to the 
International Space Station. The 11-day mission calls for attachment of 
the space station segment, transfer of the cargo and supplies and a test 
of a new power transfer system. If the system works, the mission would 
be extended to 14 days.

Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan will also conduct several 
educational programs during the flight.

*Mission Information*
+ STS-118 Mission Overview 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html>
+ STS-118 Fact Sheet (900 Kb PDF) 
<http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/184910main_sts118_factsheet4.pdf>
+ STS-118 NASA TV Schedule 
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html>
+ STS-118 Briefing Animations 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia/sts118_anim_07102007.html>
+ STS-117 Mission Archive 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/index.html>