Space Shuttle Endeavour Blasts Off

Shuttle Carries Teacher-Astronaut And 6 Crewmates On Mission To International Space Station

(CBS/AP) 
A week into the flight, Morgan, 55, will speak with schoolchildren in Idaho, where she lived and taught before joining NASA in 1998 as the first teacher to undergo full astronaut training. She'll also answer questions from students in two other states if the mission is extended from 11 days to 14 days as planned. The crew will test a new power converter that should allow the shuttle to remain docked to the station longer than ever before.

Endeavour is fresh from an overhaul that's kept it grounded for nearly five years. Besides the power transfer system, the shuttle has been equipped with complete satellite navigation and improved main engine monitoring equipment.

Liftoff had been scheduled for Tuesday, but last week NASA delayed the flight by a day because of a leaky valve in the crew cabin that needed to be replaced.

Working by remote control, engineers at the Kennedy Space Center began pumping a half-million gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen rocket fuel into the shuttle Endeavour's external tank early Wednesday, setting the stage for Thursday's launch, reports CBS News space analyst Bill Harwood.

NASA is hoping a successful flight will draw some attention away from the rash of embarrassments it's faced this year, most recently a NASA-commissioned medical panel's report suggesting astronauts were intoxicated on launch day on at least two occasions.

Griffin said Wednesday that NASA is investigating the anonymous allegations. The space agency's top safety official has gone back 10 years through every shuttle flight and can find no flight surgeon, astronaut or document hinting at launch day drinking by a crew member, he said.

"This is not a credible scenario. They're on TV. We just watched them having breakfast," Griffin said, referring to the Endeavour astronauts.

"The charges seem uncredible, and it also seems uncredible that somebody would just make it up. That's why it's so puzzling and that's why it's serious and that's why we will investigate."

[michellem99-2009]

To me it means BEING just That. WE THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE. As we eash ponder that. WHERE IS THAT PRIDE OUR ADULTS TRYED TO TEACH US when we were growing up. Now I am that adult.
So I thank our vets as taught to as is the right thing to do. Love the Flag. Yes love a game of baseball. Am thrilled of the lovely lift off so they can learn and study our world we all live on. But am so sad over the state of this nation that is suppose to be the greatest nation in the world. Yet have we become 3 world nation. I was taught CHARITY STARTS HERE AT HOME FIRST TO TAKE CARE OF US THEN IF WE CAN THEN HELP OVERSEAS. common sense but you don't heed a 52 year old, me to tell that. Am more sadden over the leadership or lack of it in this nation.

[rushlimpdrug]

Space_Poet - ooooooh you called him Francis.
nobody better touch his stuff.

[space_poet]

To simpleguy234 - Lighten up Francis.

[rushlimpdrug]

simpleguy234 - chill out. There will always be people of varied opinions. We can't all be like you. Some of us don't mind posting some humor and others post the Bible. Smile guy.
Meanwhile, I hope the astronauts took enough beer for the trip. Otherwise, it is going to be one helll of a beer run for one of them.

[why_not_nar]

Of course everyone wishes the crew members well. But a difficult problem. Unless mistaken every time the shuttle is launched, a 5% chance of total failure. A safer way of getting/returning from space would require a total rebuild.
A difficult choice.
40m Americans don't have health insurance, Social Security is heading toward bankruptcy, and we do a poor job of taking care of our veterans. Oh, and be careful driving over bridges. Of course our tax rate is the highest of all nations in the world.
When people talk of space exploration, i think it is about America. What America was and can be.
So the first priority is to have America led by people of integrity and intelligence, people we can be proud of.
Without that, nothing else is possible. And for now, I would start by helping our Veterans, fixing our bridges, getting out of this war. Than we can worry about space exploration.

[simpleguy234]

I for one am sick of hearing about the so called facts you conspiracy theorists always are coming up with. You have taken the first amendment and made a shame of it. You profess knowledge yet base your accusations upon theory. You are miserable in your lives and dont feel complete until everyone else is miserable with you. I wont fall into your bandwagons... and we here are sick of your bs, negativity, and all of the other *** that you freely dish out under the premise that the first amendment of the constitution of this great nation gives you the right to. Stupidity and complete and total ignorance are protected by this amendment. You are lucky you live in this country you bafoons. GO ENDEAVOR! GO AMERICA! SHUT UP if you cant see that we are TRYING OUR BEST!!!!!!

[bennyblack1]

For the life of me, I just can't understand people. My gosh, the space shuttle takes off, and all you people can do is backbite each other. That space shuttle taking off is a symbol of the American spirit of Freedom. And all you guys can do is stomp on other people. And as for Barry Bonds, you guys, I for one, believe he is innocent of charges of steroid use. Otherwise, I think he would have quit baseball, and not broken the record. Baseball is another great American sport. Granted, I don't like it, but it is American made. So, Michelle is proud of the space shuttle launching. Mercy sakes, shouldn't she be? If you were a little more American, you wouldn't be so horribly mean to another American, and you also would be proud of the accomplishment, particularly so soon after a terrorist attack.

[michellem99-2009]

Yes it was color and I know that now you can read it but it not the same as live TV. FYI ,JFK was born in Brookline,MA on 29 May 1917. I am grateful the lift off WENT very well. I am Maine born and yes Maine was MA before 15 March 1820.
That said, I shall follow the mission by reeding about it. It has been my interest for years.

[rushlimpdrug]

MichelleM99 - what are you trying to tell the world?
I remember seeing a clip of President Kennedy where he said, "I AM A BERLINER" or something to that effect.
Anyway, I am glad for you that you are a NEW ENGLANDER.
And I guess I am glad you had a tv in 1986.
Was it a color tv?

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid%u2026.

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the fascist nazi terrorslam imperialist empire of the darkside...

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770

Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the ji

[tnt1954]

i have read sci-fi detective fiction, about
crime in space, and spies in space. i'm pretty
of sick of science fiction. the whole genre
is so revolting to me now. hope somebody
doesn't get jealous. or possessive.
beyond the end of forever is a great area, called
heaven or God's space. you could on and on
and on making up malarky about space. but where
did space itself come from?

[olebd]

Since it's taxpayer money, I'm sure they bring the more expensive, imported beers.

[olebd]

Drinking in space must be a heck of a buzz with the zero gravity. Talk about bed spins!

[downtowner97]

The Russians did everything we're doing in space a long time ago. We're not getting any good science out of any of this. What's the point?

[why_not_nar]

Sorry. Probably wrong place.
G-d speed to the astronauts onboard.
None of whom earn 15m, year.
150K maybe, it's fitting, how could they afford
$700/night hotels on Nantucket?
Anyone think that something is wrong here?

[donnie900]

Someone untie me.

[why_not_nar]

Katie,

You inundate us with data, and convey so little information.
So little understanding.
Do you know what an O-Ring is? Ever see one?
Do you know why it failed?
Ever hear of a scientist named Richard Feynman?

Ever been to Newark, New Jersey?
Ever walked around and visited the families that live there?

I know where you are an expert, Nantucket Island.

I am sorry. You are painfully ill equipped for your job.

If he is watching tonight, Mr. Cronkite is sadly shaking his head. And unfortunately, that is the way it is for CBS news, August 8'th, 2007.

Goodnight.

[michellem99-2009]

I AM A NEW ENGLANDER. I saw that craft go AND blow up ON TV JAN 28,1986 and yes I know were others who died that day but I met that lady and yes She did serve that meal. And I have followed the manned space program sinse Apollo. I am 52. So dear you can thank the space program for many things we now use. Our computers,watches, and a host of other things. Did you know our home pc is more powerful than what NASA had to work with during the Apollo program. It is a fact. iT IS.

[hayesc1-2009]

Absolutely incredible. It would be nice to have a better safer aerospace vehicle but it is impressive nonetheless.

[tejasdemo]

Send Bush and Cheney up there. Then shoot them in individual capsules over to the moon.