U.S. shuttle Endeavour lifts off

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour lifts off on Monday morning from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on a 13-day construction mission to the orbiting International Space Station (ISS).

The space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the  Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, February 8, 2010.  The 13-day mission includes three space walks and the delivery of a  module that will increase the interior space of the International  Space Station. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

According to NASA TV, the shuttle blasted off at 4:14 a.m. EST (0914 GMT) on a tower of flame that turned the dark Florida sky as bright as day. The five engines boosting Endeavour and its external tank towards orbit shut down as planned about eight and half minutes into flight.

Its flight was delayed a day by cloudy weather on Sunday morning.

"Looks like the weather came together tonight," launch director Mike Leinbach told the astronauts before liftoff. "It's time to go fly."

"We'll see you in a couple weeks," replied commander George Zamka.