Space shuttle Endeavour punches a hole as it hurtles into the sky atop a column of fire on the STS-126 mission.

Space shuttle Endeavour punches a hole in the dark of night as it hurtles into the sky atop a column of fire on the STS-126 mission. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center was on time at 7:55 p.m. EST. STS-126 is the 124th space shuttle flight and the 27th flight to the International Space Station. The mission will feature four spacewalks and work that will prepare the space station to house six crew members for long-duration missions. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews