page_title: STS-124
section_title: 31 May (Flight day 1, Launch)
hierarchical_section_title: STS-124 / Mission timeline / 31 May (Flight day 1, Launch)
caption_attribution_description: English: CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery appears to sit on a wall of fire as it hurtles into space on its STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center was on time at 5:02 p.m. EDT. Discovery is making its 35th flight. The STS-124 mission is the 26th in the assembly of the space station. It is the second of three flights launching components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The shuttle crew will install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module and its remote manipulator system, or RMS. The 14-day flight includes three spacewalks. Photo credit: NASA/Jerry Cannon, George Roberts
context_page_description: STS-124 was a Space Shuttle mission, flown by Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Discovery launched on 31 May 2008 at 17:02 EDT, moved from an earlier scheduled launch date of 25 May 2008, and landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, at 11:15 EDT on 14 June 2008. Its objective was to deliver the largest module of the space station - the Japanese Experiment Module pressurized section. The mission is also referred to as ISS-1J by the ISS program.
context_section_description: The Space Shuttle Discovery launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 17:02 EDT local time. Debris from the fuel tank was minimal.
  "While we've all prepared for this event today, the discoveries from Kibo will definitely offer hope for tomorrow," said Discovery's commander Mark Kelly just before launch. "Now stand by for the greatest show on Earth."
caption: STS-124 launch close-up
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