NASA Flow Director for space shuttle Endeavour Ken Tenbusch holds the tie cut after the launch of Endeavour.

NASA Flow Director for space shuttle Endeavour, Ken Tenbusch (left) holds the tie cut by Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (right) after the successful launch of Endeavour. The tie-cutting is 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