Space Shuttle Discovery successfully lifts off on mission STS-128
Saturday, August 29, 2009
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/STS-128_Discovery_launch.jpg/230px-STS-128_Discovery_launch.jpg)
Image: NASA.
Space Shuttle Discovery has successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on mission STS-128. Discovery took off at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The shuttle's payload consists of a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module or 'Leonardo' and a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier. The treadmill named for comedian Stephen Colbert also is aboard Discovery. Colbert had previously won a contest to have one of the modules named after him, but officials at NASA decided on the name Tranquility.
"Space Shuttle Discovery completed a flawless ascent into orbit Friday night to begin a two-day chase of the International Space Station," said NASA in a statement on their website.
After flying up on Discovery, astronaut Nicole Stott will trade places with station resident Tim Kopra, who went into space last month aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Sources
- Marcia Dunn - Associated Press. "Space Shuttle Blasts off, Finally Flying on Try 3" — ABC News, August 29, 2009
- "Discovery in Orbit, Chasing Space Station" — NASA, August 29, 2009