Endeavour Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach cuts the tie of NASA Flow Director for Endeavour Ken Tenbusch.

After the successful launch of space shuttle Endeavour, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (right) cuts the tie of NASA Flow Director for Endeavour Ken Tenbusch, a tradition for first-timers. Liftoff was on time at 2:28 a.m. EDT. The crew will make a record-breaking 16-day mission to the International Space Station and deliver the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett