two and a half years of tireless
dedication the commitment and effort of
countless individuals focused on a
single goal the safe return to flight on
the space shuttle discovery and her crew
of five the STS 26 mission will be much
more than the test of a space flight
vehicle it would be the ultimate
verification of human determination and
pride
never before had NASA undertaken a
challenge of this magnitude although
accomplishment and excellence had always
been synonymous with the space program
America's aerospace and scientific
community was faced with the task of
rebuilding it and rebuild it they did
fire the responsibility for providing a
safe and reliable propulsion system for
the shuttle rested with the people of
the Marshall Space Flight Center their
job would require every bit of the
technological and management expertise
they could muster and every ounce of
personal dedication redesign and certify
test and retest check and recheck one of
the most aggressive and comprehensive
test programs industry we have a goal
for main engine start 76 we have main
engine start
up and running although this process
would not be easy their efforts would
culminate with several successful key
system tests each one moving NASA a step
closer to the new beginning
have faith in progress the preparations
had seemed overwhelming at times and the
attention and scrutiny of the entire
nation had been focused on NASA's
day-to-day activities at Cape Canaveral
today the result has been new testing
programs and redesign so far so good
that's the words that I could satellite
report ready from the Kennedy Space
Center which the people who make things
happen engineers right here at the
Marshall Space Flight Center but
eventually the modifications and
improvements were made the long hours
and hard work had been invested the time
had come just over 36 hours now before
the scheduled launch of the space
shuttle discovery and the countdown does
continue the world would once again be
looking to the activities now taking
place on the historic eastern coast of
Florida the Kennedy Space Center
these five men would carry the hopes and
dreams of every American citizen into
space with them the Mission Control
teams ready I know the launch control
team here and the Florida's ready the
bird is ready and we're ready as in the
past the public would once again rally
behind the space program support was
evident at every turn go discovery I
think everybody's waiting to fly
tomorrow and just sit there and cheer
green ribbons were everywhere and
wherever we go to eat and stop or
anywhere on the street people have green
ribbons on for go for discovery White
Rock 99.3 FM is w lr q cocoa good
afternoon I'm John Robbins were coming
up very shortly on the launch of
discovery and I tell you the phone lines
of Jessamine jammed for local artist
Kenny Michaels song which has been
chosen by the tourism and development
council as the official song for the
launch of discovery here's fly on mon
light rock 99.3 FM now let's go
discovery I'm extremely proud of this
team and all the members of this this
NASA family we're ready the shuttle
stack is ready discovery is ready and
tomorrow the shuttle should return to
his proper place in the sky and launch
us into a new era of manned flight
operations support of our space program
STS 26 was go
this is shuttle launch control at
t-minus three hours and holding Matt the
test director Frank Marino has been in
contact with personnel over at the
astronaut quarters and has given them
permission to wake the flight crew in
preparation for this morning's launch of
STS 26
the crew has a wide variety of breakfast
items to choose from ranging from cold
cereal to steak and eggs juice milk and
other beverages
go
birdie
he will be italiana now and then we
going fun would like to go over one more
thing Walker nothing yet ago and we'll
get help us over one point
September 29 1988 thousands gathered
together to witness the historic event
across the country and around the world
all eyes were on pad 39b t-minus 15 14
13 12 11 10 we're go for main engine
start seven six three two one
Americans return to the phases discovery
cleared the tower roll discovery know
what drama I think everybody was very
excited about being here and then that
ignition there was a roar in the firing
room where I was and then two minutes
later when we get the SRB separation
command now there was another loud roar
standing by for solid rocket booster
separation
after performing flawlessly during asset
the redesigned solid rocket boosters
dissented side-by-side into the Atlantic
meanwhile the main engines continued to
boost discovery to orbitz main engine
cutoff confirm if every three main
engines have now shut down in the
program the external tank concluded the
perfectly executed propulsion sequence
with a fiery re-entry and planned break
up over the Indian Ocean and they settle
the discovery is now in orbit as I
expected NASA in the Marshall Space
Flight Center I believe we're at our
best when things are a little dark if
you go back two and a half years ago
certainly that was the spot we found
ourselves in but as before a lot of hard
work a lot of dedication commitment to
the program paid off this whole thing
has been a total team effort I've never
seen people work so hard as they had in
the last two and a half years to pull
this off and it's you know everybody
should be just extremely proud well I
think I sit there probably a little
white knuckled but again prayer on my in
my heart that flight would be successful
as it was chills when I love my body oh
I want to scream I think ideas scream
I'm glad we're in back in flight again
I'm glad they're up there and I'm glad
that we're starting to experience the
thrill of victory again it was just
great just wonderful it's been too long
unbelievable unbelievable fantastic it's
great to be back it means more does then
we can really describe we all the people
that did that so much they worked so
hard for so long and it means so much to
to this Center into this country
during the next four days NASA would
demonstrate that the entire space
transportation system was indeed ready
to resume flight operations sts 26 would
provide the country with an opportunity
to relive the dream a time to re-examine
the reasons we must continue to explore
and utilize the resource of space a time
to again experience it's awesome beauty
and to reflect upon its ultimate risk
today up here where the blue sky turns
to black we can say at long last too
thick Mike duty to line a now at the
Christmas break girlfriends we have
resumed the journey so we promise to
continue for you dear friends your loss
has meant that we could confidently
beginning in dear friends your spirit
and your dream are still alive in our
hearts
flight dynamics officer reports
discovery looking good rolling on to
file but maybe the greatest
accomplishment associated with the STS
26 mission had already been realized
even before launch the team work and
commitment by the men and women of NASA
and its contractors was unequal in scope
and precedent the task held immense
responsibility and would not be without
obstacles but these dedicated people
have overcome obstacles before opening
doors to the future again they responded
a tribute to the vision determination
and ingenuity has made America the
leader in space exploration roger
wheelstop discovery welcome back a great
ending to the new beginning
now with renewed confidence and pride
the future holds new challenges and
expectations with the same dedication
that ensured discoveries successful
return to flight the potential is
unlimited and since success ultimately
depends on people the shuttle program is
in very good hands NASA is back America
is back
you