At last, weather conditions seem to have provided a clear launch for the Endeavour spacecraft, which carries a crew of 7 to the International Space Station. As a result, the 2 million-kilogram heavy shuttle blasted off into the sky at 1955 EST (0055 GMT), providing a special show for the watchers who were present at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the help of the nearly-full Moon. The craft contains a hefty amount of tools that will help the astronauts upgrade the station in order to support double its current crew of 3.

 

When there were only 15 minutes left until lift-off, technicians spotted a door on the launch pad that wasn't perfectly secured. But the launch control experts indicated that it would not turn to be a problem for the craft, as, in the worst case scenario, it would only damage the room that provides access to Endeavour to some extent. And it turns out they were right about it, as the shuttle was able to take off without a scratch.

 

"We're about to get an extreme home makeover. It's an exciting day. It doesn't get better than this, my friends," said space station commander Mike Fincke, quoted by Discovery. Launch director Mike Leinbach agreed: "The vehicle's in good shape, the weather's beautiful. Good luck, Godspeed, and have a Happy Thanksgiving on orbit."

 

The crew, together with the astronauts aboard the ISS will give the station an extreme makeover, with the help of the two new bedrooms, a new bathroom, a refrigerator that will finally provide cold drinks, a kitchenette, another exercise machine to keep the team in shape, as well as a revolutionary new recycling system that will recycle urine and condensation. "It's our turn to take home improvement to a new level," stated Commander Christopher Ferguson. "With six people, you really do need to have a two-bathroom house. It's a lot more convenient and a lot more efficient," shared Endeavour astronaut Sandra Magnus, quoted by NewScientist.

 

Besides the "home" improvements, the shuttle also carries a lot of scientific equipment for new experiments, while the group of astronauts will spend most of their time performing spacewalks during a servicing mission for a clogged enormous rotary joint of the solar panel of the station. The mission is due to end in 2 weeks’ time.