NASA's First Independence Day Space Shuttle Launch
Independence Day Space Shuttle Launch
The Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off at 2:38 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, July 4 and was the first space shutlle to launch on Independence Day.
According to NASA: "With a rocket's red glare, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in a spectacular display of sound and light befitting of Independence Day.
Commanded by Steven Lindsey, Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts roared from Launch Pad 39B to begin a 15,000-mph chase to rendezvous with the International Space Station.
As Discovery raced into the bright blue sky, cheers and applause erupted across Kennedy and along the nearby beaches of Florida's Space Coast. Today's successful launch came on the third try after the first two attempts to launch were dashed by poor weather. "
Follow the countdown and more news from NASA at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
Watch the launch on NASA-TV at:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
Read the NASA launch Blog at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sts-121/launch-vlcc.html