About 50 faculty, staff and students in Tyler Haynes Commons cheered at 2:28 p.m. on Monday when the space shuttle Atlantis successfully launched, carrying Spider alumnus Leland Melvin on his latest mission to the international space station.
The mission is Melvin's second in space. In February 2008, Melvin was aboard Atlantis for a visit to the space station. Melvin worked last year at the Jepson School of Leadership as a leader-in-residence, but left after he was selected for the flight.
Atlantis launched carrying spare parts to the space station that were too big for space shuttles from other countries.
The mission will last 10 days and 19 hours, NASA officials said. The astronauts will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in space and return the next day.
Contact reporter David Larter at david.larter@richmond.edu
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