Space shuttle Discovery lifts off, reaches orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) – The U.S. space shuttle
Discovery blasted off from its launchpad at Cape Canaveral in
Florida on Tuesday in NASA’s first shuttle mission since
Columbia was destroyed in 2003.

The launch was postponed from July 13 because of a glitch
in a fuel sensor.

The shuttle, carrying seven crew members, soared into
slightly hazy skies on a plume of smoke and flames, and the
roar of its solid booster rockets rattled windows and shook the
ground across the Cape.

The booster rockets separated without problem just after 2
minutes into flight, said NASA launch commentator James
Hartsfield. Around nine minutes after launch, the shuttle
reached its planned preliminary orbit and cut off its three
main engines.

The shuttle’s mission is to test new safety and repair
measures introduced after Columbia disintegrated over Texas on
Feb. 1, 2003, after falling foam knocked a hole in its wing on
liftoff 16 days earlier. Discovery will also deliver supplies
and equipment to the International Space Station.