After Wednesday’s aborted launch, NASA’s space shuttle blasted off on a 14 day mission from Kennedya Space centre, Florida, US.
Its crew will deliver and install the space station’s fourth and final set of solar arrays, which will provide the power for it to expand.
The seven astronauts include Koichi Wakata, who will be Japan’s first long-term resident on the space station.
The shuttle’s launch was postponed last month because of mechanical problems.
Electricity from the new solar arrays will support the expansion of the crew to six people.
It will also provide the power necessary to fully exploit the science labs now attached to the ISS.
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