has documented the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The first entirely water-based trail in the National Trail System, Captain John Smith followed this route over 400 years ago. In addition to helping found Jamestown, Smith became the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay.with their well-being," she said.

The space shuttle roared from its seaside pad at 2:28 a.m., lighting up the sky for miles around as it took off on a multinational flight involving Canada and Japan.

It was a rare treat: The last time NASA launched a shuttle at nighttime was in 2006. Only about a quarter of shuttle flights have begun in darkness.

"Good luck and Godspeed, and we'll see you back here in 16 days," launch director Mike Leinbach radioed to the astronauts right before liftoff.

"Banzai," replied Endeavour's commander, Dominic Gorie, using a Japanese exclamation of joy. "God truly has blessed us with a beautiful night here, Mike, to launch, so let's light 'em up and give 'em a show."

They did. The shuttle took flight with a flash of light,