Bill Parsons left and Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats wait for the final countdown of Discovery on mission STS-120.

In the firing room of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, KSC Director Bill Parsons (left) and Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats wait for the final countdown of space shuttle Discovery on mission STS-120. Liftoff was on time at 11:38:19 a.m. EDT. Discovery carries the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. During the 14-day STS-120 mission, the crew will install Harmony and move the P6 solar arrays to their permanent position and deploy them. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett