Liftoff

Space shuttle Discovery launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center a few minutes ago. I was invited to watch the shuttle launch, which includes native Arkansan Scott Parazynski as a mission specialist. It's a decision I already regret, but I was just too covered up this week. The in-laws of another astronaut on board, Clayton Anderson, live in Bella Vista.

Discovery and its seven astronauts will add a new module called Harmony to the orbiting laboratory during the STS-120 mission. They will also reposition a station segment already in orbit, and crew member Dan Tani will move into the space station for a long-duration mission.