STS-118 Flight is "Textbook"

NASA's shuttle Endeavour was a textbook launch according to NASA officials. STS-118 finally allowed a "teacher astronaut" to go into outer space after the ill-fated Challenger disaster with Christa McAuliffe aboard.

"The launch operation doesn't get any better than this, it really can't," NASA chief Michael Griffin said of the latest launch of the Shuttle Endeavour.


STS-120 will lift off in October. The Shuttle will be retired in 201o at the completion of the ISS.

NASA Space Shuttle Program.