NASA's space shuttle Endeavour finally lifted off from the
"We have main engine start. Four, three, two, one, booster ignition and liftoff," an announcer from the space
agency's mission control said.
The shuttle basted off at 3:33 am IST today, in what was the sixth attempt on the heels of a stream of weather woes and technical troubles.
Soaring into the
In the minutes before liftoff when it became clear that weather would not cause another costly delay, NASA's relief was evident.
"Persistence pays off, good luck and God speed," said launch director Pete Nickolenko.
Endeavour's launch has been scrubbed three times since Saturday due to bad weather.
Two earlier attempts in June were aborted after potentially hazardous fuel leaks were discovered, apparently
caused by a misaligned plate linking a hydrogen gas vent line with the external fuel tank.
The previous attempts left the cash-strapped
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