Space Shuttle Discovery, on mission STS-116 blasted off a few minutes ago at approximately 5.47 pm Pacific.

They will make space-worthiness checks to Discovery, and then mosey on to dock with the International Space Station, where several EVAs will be made in the process of modifying and upgrading the space station. Docking at the space station is scheduled for 2.07 pm Pacific on Monday, December 11.

Among the crew are two people of African descent, Captain Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., USN, and Joan E. Higginbotham, both of whom are Mission Specialists.

Bon Voyage.

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