It was a perfect launch of the space shuttle in clear Florida skies at sunrise this morning. Burlington native and Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jim Kelly piloted Discovery into orbit. The crew of seven is on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. It’s the first trip into space for the 36-year-old Kelly and the fifth for an Iowan. The crew currently includes six Americans and one Russian. The current space station “Alpha” crew is being rotated home, so the return trip will include five Americans and two Russians. Kelly will return on the shuttle on March 20th.
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