The Endeavour Launch

Hi again!
As you may have (or may not have) guessed from the title, this post is about the launch of the Space shuttle Endeavour.
It launched yesterday at about ten to nine GMT. I think. I may be wrong.
On Sunday, I got up early (Well, earlier than I'd normally get up on a Sunday) to watch the launch at 09:39 GMT, but it was scrubbed because of low cloud ceilings and rescheduled for yesterday.
I would have still watched it, but I have to go to this thing called "school" which was unfortunately at the same time.
:(
But it launched! At lunchtime I raced into the library to check the NASA website, and I was delighted to discover that the Endeavour STS-130 mission had launched!
With Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts and Mission specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick.
It's Terry Virts first time in space, and this morning the shuttle crew woke up to the song "Give me your eyes" by Brandon Heath to commemorate that.

The song inspired me to write a poem about it (yes, I know, dull. Bear with me, okay?) which is short, rubbish and just plain weird. I'm going to post it here anyway. If you don't want to read it, skip down to the end of the italics.
Anticipation (Technically, It could also be titled"Daydreaming".)

The culmination of a lifetime's dream
Bravery and Anticipation
The dream to extend humanity's reach
Filled with nerves and exhilaration

An unexplored expanse,
Devoid of life,
Filled with Adevnture.

An empty vacuum,
Endless and secretive,
A hive of undiscovered information.

Reaching for the sky,
Terror and joy in one heart beat
This is where, finally
Dream and reality will meet.

Good, bad, worst thing you've ever read?
Let me know in the comments. I know it's a tad...well, insane...but try to see past that, will you? :)

Anyway, back To the subject of the Launch.
They are delivering the Tranquility Node to the ISS (International Space Station), which was created in Italy for the ESA (European Space Agency) and is one of the last major US components of the structure. Also the seven-windowed cupola room.

Also, the Shuttle Launch was NASA's last planned night-time launch. Ever.
The mission will last 13 days. Astronaut Nicholas Patrick is planning to try and tweet from space-as other astronauts are already doing-which should be interesting. His twitter username is @Astro-Nicholas. Or it might be @Astro_Nicholas. I'm not sure. Try both?

I find this all extremely interestind and could go on for much longer (As my two annoyed sisters know, after I rambled on for hours to each of them in turn about the failed launch, the real launch, what being a mission specialist entails, how astronauts enter and leave the shuttle, the purpose of the external fuel tank, and many other details).
I pretty much lectured my sister earlier when she tried to make me laugh by making up a comedy story where a girl tried to handcuff herself to a shuttle, File parts away with a nile file, and then mend it with chewing gum.
I lectured her, literally, for about 20 minutes before I got distracted. Silly Rebecca. There is no way anyone could handcuff themselves to the Orbiter. Something that can survive deep space could not be harmed by a nile file, and no, you can not mend a shuttle with chewing gum.
That is a very much shorter version of my lecture as you can probably tell. I also corrected her on other things, but I don't think I have to list every single mistake she made, do I? I'd only end up making one of my own.

NASA has stopped working to build a replacement for the shuttles when they stop being used. I wonder what the replacement, if/when built, will be like?