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Endeavour's blastoff successful, troubling

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The Associated Press

Published: July 16, 2009

CAPE CANAVERAL - After more than a month's delay, space shuttle Endeavour and seven astronauts thundered into orbit Wednesday on a flight to the International Space Station, hauling up a veranda for Japan's enormous lab and looking to set a crowd record.

Success came on launch try No. 6 on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the liftoff of man's first moon landing.

However, the mood was dampened somewhat when NASA managers watched the launch video.

Several pieces of foam insulation came off the external fuel tank during liftoff, and the shuttle was hit two or three times, said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's space operations chief. Some scuff marks were spotted on the belly, but that probably is coating loss and is considered minor, he said.

The astronauts will catch up Friday afternoon with the space station. When they do, it will be the first time 13 people have been together in space. The shuttle will remain docked at the space station for nearly two weeks.

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