"...and liftoff of Shuttle Discovery! Gambatte kudasai -- best of luck to the International Space Station's newest laboratory!"

"...Houston now controlling the flight of Discovery, a man-made rising sun on behalf of Japan...

...Four-and-half million pounds of hardware and humans taking aim on the International Space Station..."

NASA reports:

LIFTOFF!

Image above: STS-124 begins as space shuttle Discovery ignites its three main engines and two solid rocket boosters before leaping off the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA TV

May 31 5:02 p.m. EDT
Space shuttle Discovery is on its way into space on the power of its two solid rocket boosters and three main engines! The launch traced a fiery arc across the sky of Florida's East Coast as the shuttle races to catch up to the International Space Station.

It will take Discovery 8 1/2 minutes to reach its orbital speed of about 17,500 mph.

Preflight pics are up at the JSC Gallery. More preflight pics and video at KSC. Discussion here. Media Resources here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.