Space Shuttle Discovery has successfully launched, taking astronauts into space on the shuttle for the first time since the destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia on reentry in 2003.

Thundering upward atop a pillar of fiery exhaust, Discovery soared safely into orbit today to end a near 30-month ban on NASA shuttle flights imposed by the 2003 Columbia accident.

The shuttle and its seven astronauts lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 9:39 a.m. CDT, climbing steeply on a northerly course into a brilliant blue sky.

The rush of emotion that accompanied the dramatic display of NASA's long recovery from Columbia's demise was evident in the cockpit as the final moments of the countdown ticked away.

The firing room in the Launch Control Center was hushed of all but the crisp exchanges between NASA launch and test directors made their last moment safety checks and reporterd the outcome to the mission management team.

"We are go for launch!," barked Wayne Hale, the mission managment team chief.

"Our long wait may be over. On behalf of the many millions of people who believe so deeply in what we do. God speed," Leinbach told Discovery commander Eileen Collins and her six colleagues.

"The crew is go for launch!" Collins barked.

"Our hopes and prayers are with you," added Mark Taffet, the Discovery test conductor.

"Thank you very much," said Collins.

And then they were off.

Collins' crew includes pilot Jim Kelly, flight engineer Steve Robinson as well as mission specialists Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charles Camarda and Soichi Noguchi of Japan.

God speed you all on this voyage, and bring you home to us safely.

And may I add a special congratulations to friends Roger, Tracy and Kevin just down the road at Johnson Space Center. I know your hearts have ached these last 30 months -- may this success help to soothe the loss and sadness.