NASA space shuttle Endeavour has lifted off for the International Space Station from the launch site in Cape Canaveral. The 11-day mission will be Endeavour's first flight in almost five years.
The mission to upgrade the station will involve three spacewalks. The astronauts will install a new beam for the ISS support structure and replace a faulty device. Thanks to new equipment, Endeavour will get power directly from the orbital station, allowing the shuttle to remain in space longer. Of the seven astronauts taking part, the spotlight is on school teacher Barbara Morgan. She trained as a backup for the Challenger shuttle, which exploded on take-off in 1986.