Space shuttle blasts off for 13-day mission

? Discovery and seven astronauts headed for a rendezvous with the International Space Station after a predawn liftoff Monday on one of the last missions for NASA’s shuttle program.

The launch — the last one scheduled in darkness for NASA’s fading shuttle program — helped set a record for the most women in space at the same time. Three women are aboard Discovery, and another is already at the space station, making for an unprecedented foursome. The shuttle should arrive at the orbiting outpost Wednesday.