US space shuttle Columbia lifted off early Friday morning, starting a key journey to repair the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.
The launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 6:22 EST (1122 GMT), is the fourth service mission to Hubble since it was placed in orbit in 1990.
During Columbia's 11-day flight, the seven-member crew will perform five space walks to add a new camera to expand Hubble's vision, replace the telescope's power control system and other equipment.