Space shuttle Discovery is launched from Florida

31/05/2008 - 23:13

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The U.S. space shuttle Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday on a 14-day mission to deliver Japan's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station.

The shuttle roared off its seaside launch pad at 5:02 p.m.(10:02 p.m. British time) and settled safely into its initialorbit 8 1/2 minutes later about 140 miles (225 km) above theEarth.

(Reporting by Irene Klotz; Editing by Jim Loney and PeterCooney)