* Astronomy

The space shuttle Atlantis has been successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The orbiter is taking Europe's Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS).
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Nasa has said that at least three pieces fell off the shuttle during lift off.
The pieces are thought to have come off the fuel tank. A laser survey of the shuttles protective insulating foam will be carried out tomorrow.

External tank jettisoned

All systems nominal

The countdown timeline (GMT):
19:44 PM...Booster joint heater deactivation
19:44 PM...Shuttle flight computers take control of countdown



-- Edited by Blobrana at 19:52, 2008-02-07