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Sunday, 24 November, 2002, 08:40 GMT
Space shuttle blasts off
Shuttle Endeavour blasts off
Endeavour had been on the launch pad for weeks
The space shuttle Endeavour has blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida after nearly a month of delays.

The shuttle is carrying a new crew of seven to the International Space Station (ISS). Among them is the first native American astronaut.


We're ready to set thundering sail

Commander James Wetherbee
The Endeavour left the launch pad at 1950 (0050 GMT Sunday). It is also delivering another massive building block for the ISS.

Three of the astronauts are scheduled for a four-month stay on the space station.

The other four, who will be returning with the Shuttle, include native American John Herrington.

He is scheduled to take part in a series of spacewalks to install a space station girder.

Good weather

The launch went ahead when rain held off at one of the two overseas emergency landing strips in Spain.

"Looks like we've got a good vehicle and good weather for you," launch director Mike Leinbach said.

Paul Lockhart, AP
Pilot Paul Lockhart is a last-minute replacement
Commander James Wetherbee responded: "From the bridge of the Endeavour, we're ready to set thundering sail."

The shuttle lit up the night sky as it left Earth, remaining visible for seven minutes.

On Friday, the countdown had been halted less than 10 minutes before lift-off.

The shuttle is due to reach the ISS on Monday. Its three current residents have been on board the orbital craft since June and are due to be replaced.

Oxygen leak

Endeavour should have blasted off on the 16th shuttle mission in October, but was grounded until November because of cracked fuel lines found throughout the shuttle fleet.

Then on 11 November, the mission was delayed again.

The shuttle had already been loaded with more than 1.9 million litres (500,000 gallons) of rocket fuel. The problem was a leak in the system that provides oxygen to the crew's helmets.

The shuttle's 15-metre (50 foot) robot arm was also damaged when workers accidentally rammed a platform into it.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
The BBC's Emma Brannam
"On board is the first native American ever launched into space"
See also:

11 Nov 02 | Science/Nature
19 Oct 02 | Science/Nature
09 Oct 02 | Science/Nature
05 Aug 02 | Science/Nature
19 Jun 02 | Science/Nature
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