SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Endeavour Lifts Off! * *Launch Date:* Aug. 8 *Launch Time:* 6:36 p.m. EDT

Image above: Space Shuttle Endeavour during liftoff. Photo credit: NASA

*08.08.07 - 7:35 p.m. EDT* NASA's Administrator and top launch managers celebrated the flawless liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour Wednesday evening as the fulfillment of a legacy.

"A launch operation doesn't get any better than this, it can't," Administrator Mike Griffin said following the launch. + View Launch Video javascript:watchNASAOnDemandTV('','http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_launch.ram','http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_080807_sts118_launch.asx')

The flight placed seven astronauts, a space station segment and 5,800 pounds of cargo and supplies into orbit and on the way to the International Space Station. The 11-day mission calls for attachment of the space station segment, transfer of the cargo and supplies and a test of a new power transfer system. If the system works, the mission would be extended to 14 days.

Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan will also conduct several educational programs during the flight.

*Mission Information* + STS-118 Mission Overview http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html + STS-118 Fact Sheet (900 Kb PDF) http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/184910main_sts118_factsheet4.pdf + STS-118 NASA TV Schedule http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/mission_schedule.html + STS-118 Briefing Animations http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia/sts118_anim_07102007.html + STS-117 Mission Archive http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/index.html