CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 15 (UPI) -- Seven astronauts headed toward the International Space Station following Sunday's launch of space shuttle Discovery at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The shuttled lifted off at 7:43 p.m. EDT.
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NASA's Space Shuttle "Discovery" remains bolted to the launch pad on Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 11, 2009..The launch team called a halt to the countdown when a gaseous hydrogen leak was detected on a line connecting ground support equipment to the external tank. Currently, NASA is hoping to resolve the issues and launch Discovery on a mission to the International Space Station no earlier than Sunday, March 15. (UPI Photo/Joe Marino - Bill Cantrell) | License Photo
The countdown proceeding apace after technicians repaired a gaseous hydrogen vent line, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said on its Web site. The final inspection team completed its check of the shuttle and pad, and there were no weather-related issues.
"They've found no issues other than a sleeping bat that is hanging onto the external tank," NASA reported. "The bat is not expected to interfere with launch this evening."
A small crowd assembled to wave to and cheer the STS-119 astronauts as they boarded a vintage silver Astrovan for the drive to the launch pad.
The shuttle crew is to install the last major set of solar arrays to the orbiting laboratory complex and crew member Koichi Wakata of Japan will switch from the shuttle to the station crew, while current station crew member Sandra Magnus takes Wakata's place on the Discovery crew, NASA said.
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- Mike Leinbach
