Endeavour Lifts Off on STS-123

In Tuesday's pre-dawn hours at Kennedy Space Center, more specifically at 2:28AM EDT (0628 GMT), space shuttle Endeavour lifted off launch pad 39A with an international payload incluiding two of the newest components of the space station: a two-armed Canadian robot and the first piece of Japan's three-part Kibo laboratory.

This was only the second dark or nighttime launch of a space shuttle by NASA since the Columbia disaster (2/2003). The first was in 2006. Daytime shuttle launches have been preferred, and were initially required because any debris falling from the shuttle and possibly impacting it would be more visible. Nighttime launches are now allowed, and somewhat preferred due to radar clearness. One piece of debris was noted falling from the external tank 83 seconds into the launch. NASA officials believe it missed the right wing of Endeavour.

This was NASA's second of six planned missions for 2008. STS-123 will also be NASA's longest space station mission at a planned 16 days, which includes 5 planned spacewalks (also a record). Click on the picture, it is very HQ (credit: NASA).