Intro music.
After two-and-a-half years, Space Shuttle Discovery roared into Earth orbit on NASA's long-awaited Return to Flight mission July 26, 2005.
The twin Solid Rocket Boosters roared to life at 10:39 a.m. Eastern time,
launching a seven-member astronaut crew aboard Discovery on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station.
The liftoff capped nearly two weeks of round-the-clock troubleshooting
to find and fix a problem with an engine fuel cut-off sensor that caused the first launch attempt, on July 13, to be cancelled.
But the sensors performed perfectly and the weather improved,
allowing the world to watch the orange-suited astronauts make their way to the launch pad.
With the crew-module hatch closed and final preparations complete,
Launch Director Mike Leinbach gave Discovery's crew, led by Commander Eileen Collins, the "go" for launch.
"Ok Eileen our long wait may be over. On behalf of the many millions of people who believe so deeply in what we do,
Good luck, Godspeed and have a little fun up there."
"Our thanks to you, to the launch team and to everybody in the shuttle program. The crew is go for launch." "Copy that. Thank you."
"Systems armed, T-10 seconds, go for main engines start 7, 6, 5 three engines up and burning! 3, 2, 1 and
liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery beginning America's new journey to the Moon, Mars and beyond!
And the vehicle has cleared the tower."
The Discovery crew is embarking on an ambitious mission to test new in-flight safety procedures
and carry much-needed supplies to the orbiting Space Station.
The Return to Flight mission is set to conclude with a pre-dawn landing at Kennedy on August 7.
Space Shuttle Program Deputy Manager Wayne Hale summed up the Agency's feelings after the liftoff.
"To think that here we are today with Americans back in flight on an American vehicle,
is just a tremendous step and it will be the first in many steps as we head out into the exploration of the solar system back to the Moon and on to Mars."