Space shuttle Endeavour launched into the night sky Friday bound for the international space station. The rare evening launch was a special treat for the crowds gathered nearby. Only a quarter of all shuttle flights begin in darkness, and only a handful occur at dusk.
This launch provided a spectacular show, with a moonrise just before launch providing a breathtaking backdrop. The launch began with brilliant flash of light visible for miles and appeared like a bright meteor for more than three minutes before finally vanishing from view.
The shuttle carried a crew of seven and tons of equipment for the space station, including a refrigerator, kitchen and extra bedrooms. The plan is to double the size of the space station’s three-person crew by June.
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November 20th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Here’s another amazing photo of this evening launch:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap081120.html