The space shuttle Discovery blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre on a 13-day mission to help equip the International Space Station.
Discovery roared into the dark nighttime Florida sky at 11:59 pm Friday (0359 GMT Saturday), as scheduled, and reached orbit a few minutes later.
"I wish you and to your team good luck and godspeed," National Aeronautics and Space Administration launch director Pete Nickolenko told Discovery team leader Rick Sturckow shortly before launch.