NASA Administrator Mike Griffin congratulates the team in the firing room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

After the successful launch of space shuttle Discovery on its STS-124 mission, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin (right) congratulates the team in the firing room at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Second from left is NASA Flow Director Stephanie Stilson; next to Griffin is Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Launch 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/Kim Shiflett