The clouds of smoke and Endeavour as it lifts off on the STS-126 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The light-filled clouds of smoke and steam spotlight space shuttle Endeavour as it lifts off on the STS-126 mission from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff 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 credit: NASA/Tony Gray-Tom Farrar