Space shuttle Discovery, with its seven-member crew, launched at 11:59 p.m. US EDT Friday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after two aborted attempts to get the aging space orbiter off the ground.

Discovery is carrying the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, a pressurized “moving van” that will be temporarily installed to the station. According to NASA, the module will deliver storage racks; materials and fluids science racks; a freezer to store research samples; a new sleeping compartment; an air purification system. Also on board is the now famous Colbert treadmill, named after Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert.

The 13-day flight will include three spacewalks to replace experiments outside the European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory, install a new ammonia storage tank and return the used one. Ammonia is needed to move excess heat from inside the station to the radiators located outside.

The Shuttle will rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station Sunday.

Live Discovery STS-128 coverage from Spacevidcst as follows (if you’re not on the website, click thru to watch.)

You can read more about Atlantis’s mission on our Shuttle Launch Live 2009: Atlantis Webcast page. There, you’ll also find live streaming coverage of Atlantis from the Kennedy Space Center.

Space Shuttle Launch Schedule 2009

The next major milestone in Atlantis’s space shuttle launch schedule starts at T-3 hours and holding. Assuming everything stays on-schedule (as of mid-morning, NASA is estimating a 90 percent chance of good conditions), the following timeline will occur:

T-3 hours and holding
This built-in hold typically lasts two hours.
* Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
* Align Merritt Island Launch Area (MILA) tracking antennas
* Final Inspection Team proceeds to the launch pad to conduct a detailed analysis of the vehicle as the team walks up and down the entire launch tower
* Closeout Crew proceeds to the launch pad to configure the crew module for countdown and launch and assist the astronauts with entry into the orbiter

T-3 hours and counting
* Crew departs for the launch pad and, upon arriving at the pad, begins entry into the orbiter via the White Room
* Complete close-out preparations in the launch pad’s White Room
* Check cockpit switch configurations
* Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch Control (Kennedy Space Center) and Mission Control (Johnson Space Center)
* Close the orbiter’s crew hatch and check for leaks
* Complete White Room close-out
* Close-out crew retreats to fallback area

T-20 minutes and holding
This built-in hold typically lasts 10 minutes.
* Shuttle Test Director conducts final launch team briefings
* Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments

T-20 minutes and counting
* Transition the orbiter’s onboard computers to launch configuration
* Start fuel cell thermal conditioning
* Close orbiter cabin vent valves
* Transition backup flight system to launch configuration

T-9 minutes and holding
This is the final built-in hold, and varies in length depending on the mission.
* The Launch Director, Mission Management Team and Shuttle Test Director poll their teams for a go/no go for launch

T-9 minutes and counting
* Start automatic ground launch sequencer
* Retract orbiter access arm (T-7 minutes, 30 seconds)
* Start auxiliary power units (T-5 minutes, 0 seconds)
* Arm solid rocket booster range safety safe and arm devices (T-5 minutes, 0 seconds)
* Start orbiter aerosurface profile test, followed by main engine gimbal profile test (T-3 minutes, 55 seconds)
* Retract gaseous oxygen vent arm, or “beanie cap”

T-2 minutes, 55 seconds
* Crew members close and lock their visors

T-2 minutes, 0 seconds
* Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power

T-50 seconds
* Ground launch sequencer is go for auto sequence start (T-31 seconds)
* Activate launch pad sound suppression system

T-16 seconds
* Activate main engine hydrogen burnoff system

T-10 seconds)
* Main engine start (T-6.6 seconds)

T-0
* Solid rocket booster ignition and liftoff!

Endeavor is expected to take off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 7:55 p.m. ET Friday. As of mid-morning, engineers are estimating a 70 percent chance the weather will stay calm enough for the shuttle launch to remain on schedule.

You can see the shuttle launch live at NASA TV or view our live stream below (note that non-stop shuttle coverage may not begin until later in the day). NASA also offers a host of other live streaming options — you can see specific views of the launchpad and other space facilities, as well as NASA’s official weather monitoring channel. Finally, NASA’s Space Shuttle Countdown Portal offers a view of the current launch clock in real-time, along with regularly refreshed images from the various video feeds.

The Space Shuttle Endeavor will spend 15 days at the International Space Station. Its crew will conduct four spacewalks and install new quarters, which will include a “waste water recycling system” about to turn urine into drinkable water. They’ll also be bringing a new oxygen generator.

Crews began filling the shuttle’s external tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants just moments ago. The fueling is expected to be finished by 1:30 p.m. ET.

Shuttle Launch Live Feed from NASA TV: