The Endeavour space shuttle has successfully taken off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its sixth attempt. Image: NASA/Kim Shiflett.

NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour has successfully taken off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its sixth attempt.

Endeavour’s launch was originally scheduled to take place on 13 June but was halted after a potentially dangerous leak in the gaseous hydrogen venting system was discovered.

Four more subsequent attempts took place before Endeavour finally took off yesterday (15 July). Attempts earlier this week were halted due to poor weather conditions.

The 16-day mission will include five spacewalks lasting 32.5 hours and will complete the construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory. It will be the 32nd mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits 350 kilometres above the Earth.

The ISS is now the size of a large house and has been under construction for the past ten years. The cost of the station totals more than $100 billion (£61bn) and is a work-in-progress collaboration between 16 nations.

Shortly before liftoff, Commander Mark Polansky said: “Endeavour has patiently waited for this. We’re ready to go, and we’re going to take all of you with us on a great mission.”

The first landing opportunity for Endeavour at the Kennedy Space Center will be 31 July.

The Endeavour STS-127 mission is the 127th space shuttle flight and the 29th mission to the ISS.

Seven further flights to the ISS are planned before the Endeavour retires in 2010.

For more information about the Endeavour STS-127 mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle