Shuttle Discovery blasts into orbit

Ascent looks clean for most complex stint of station assembly yet

— Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven thundered into orbit Tuesday, setting off on the most challenging space station construction mission yet that will pave the way for the arrival of two science labs in a few months.

NASA pulled off its third on-time launch in a row after determining that a small patch of ice on fuel tank plumbing posed no danger.

Most, if not all, of the ice harmlessly shook loose when the booster rockets and engines ignited.

The rain clouds that had been forecast for days stayed away for the late-morning launch.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.

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