CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Discovery and a crew of seven rocketed into orbit Tuesday in pursuit of the international space station, where a construction job awaits them.
Discovery blasted off at 11:38 a.m., ducking through clouds. It carried a giant compartment that must be installed at the space station before European and Japanese laboratories can arrive.
Despite a forecast calling for rain right at launch time, the weather ended up cooperating. And a chunk of ice on plumbing between the external fuel tank and Discovery - 4 inches by 1 1/2 inches - was deemed too small by NASA to pose a serious launch hazard. It appeared to be melting as the countdown entered its final minutes.
Launch director Mike Leinbach wished the crew good luck and Godspeed just before liftoff.
"We're ready to take Harmony to her new home," replied commander Pamela Melroy, referring to the new space station compartment aboard Discovery.
Discovery and its crew are embarking on a two-week mission that is considered the most challenging and complex in the nine years of orbital assembly of the international space station.
The shuttle is carrying up an Italian-built live-in compartment, about the size of a small bus, that the astronauts will attach to the space station. The name Harmony was the choice of schoolchildren who took part in a national competition.
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