this is shuttle launch control at
t-minus 3 hours 29 minutes 45 seconds
and counting from launch complex 39 at
the Kennedy Space Center we are now in
the final six hours of the countdown for
the launch of the space shuttle Columbia
on mission STS 94 the countdown is being
controlled from firing room 1 at the
launch control center and we are on
schedule for a liftoff have 1:50 p.m.
Eastern time this afternoon and here now
is the sts 94 flight crew all assembled
for breakfast on the end payload
specialist Greatland Terrace followed by
mission specialist Don Thomas mission
specialist Mike Bernhardt in s3 our
commander Jim Hall Sal
our pilot Susan still
our payload commander Janice Foss and
payload specialist dr. Roger Crouch
there's our commander Jim hull cell
being assisted with his launch and entry
suit
and our pilot Susan still with her
helmet on as if she's ready to go and
our payload commander mission specialist
number one Janice Voss crew will be
heading out for the launch pad in about
another 15 minutes and then payload
specialist Roger crouch mission
specialist number three Mike Bernhardt
I'm sorry number two ms number two Mike
Bernhardt and here is mission specialist
Don Thomas
payload specialist Greg Lynn Terrace
and here we see our STS 94 astronauts
now leaving the suit-up room headed for
the elevator and here they come
on every space flight I've ever been on
I've always come back with the idea of
well you know if I could do that again I
would do it differently and this this is
what I should have done or now that I
know now that I'm experienced I'll do it
differently next time but instead of
waiting years perhaps for the next
flight opportunity to put those lessons
into effect my crew will get the
opportunity to do it in just a matter of
months so it is just it's a fantastic
opportunity
this is shuttle launch control at
t-minus two hours 19 minutes 55 seconds
in County where we see in this number
two Don Thomas being assisted with his
backpack and launched an entry suit
and he will be sitting in the aft Center
seat on the flight deck as our mission
engineer
this is shuttle launch control at T at
t-minus two hours 12 minutes and
Counting where we see payload commander
Janice Voss
you're on a PC for conflicts I really
like there
thank you used to fight on two one two
we have just gotten a go forecast for
our TLS and also go observation so we
are go for launch at this time
copy flight thank you have already for a
recorder activation and we'll put that
mark manager say it Jim the LMP has no
other issues you now clear the launches
copy that and Columbia it looks like
we've got the weather wanna put a little
thank-you to guys out of here so how do
their plight and entity your clear long
I copy
C 3 status negative
main engines are kindling now steering
check on the main engines
okay I built it
t-minus two minutes 15 seconds here at
this mega baby-making turnaround
possible we'll take it goes ship in 60
days
at t minus ten nine eight seven six main
engine start three two one zero and
liftoff of Columbia with a microgravity
science laboratory a research bridge to
the International Space Station Roger
roll Columbia Houston is now controlling
roll maneuver is complete aboard
Columbia the orbiter is now in a
heads-down position on course for a
twenty eight and a half degree 160
nautical mile orbit
now at 30 seconds the three engines
aboard the orbiter will begin throttling
down as the vehicle prepares to pass
through the area of maximum dynamic
pressure on the vehicle
having just passed through that area of
maximum dynamic pressure the three
engines are preparing to begin a
throttle backup
Columbia go at throttle up one minute 20
seconds the three liquid-fueled engines
are back at full throttle good fuel
cells electrical producing fuel sales
aboard the orbiter and hydraulic systems
all in good shape Columbia is now
traveling 1,900 miles per hour already
downrange from the launch site eleven
and a half miles at an altitude of 18
miles standing by for a burnout and
separation of the twin solid rocket
boosters which signals the end of first
stage
SRB separation is confirmed two minutes
15 seconds into the flight Columbia is
now at an altitude of 31 miles downrange
from the launch site 35 miles will be a
performance is nominal performance
problem you guys take a flight deck I'll
give you downlink flight deck and let me
know if you have an image okay we're
looking at it now okay this is GB about
30 seconds prior to liftoff
I've got it queued up correctly we know
that the Bob Cabana in the empty again
at the weather Capcom and the weather
flight director everybody had this I've
been working the weather real hard for
rtln weather and in fact will be passed
over Florida the first rail we saw here
in the launch and their barrage is just
incredible we always try to describe
that it is just lawyer being nation
right there
it's just a real kick of the pants from
the solid rocket boosters ignite he
could see a magnet in the foreground
there from one of the checklist we've
tried to skew the camera slightly over
to give a better view of Susan and Emma
and Mike and Janice there
before no your headache you're going
supersonic at about 35 40 seconds apt an
altitude about 23,000 feet the wind
noise right now is just better this
maximum you can hear the width is 450
pounds or so equivalent airspeed then
you get back you miss kind of a it's
kind of a whining sound but you don't
get up a simulator that's a little bit
different here the real vehicle and then
as you go through back you on the other
side via the wind noise starts to die
down you might be able to see that
lighting is diminishing as we get up
into the darker sky
a little bit here just before solid
rocket booster separation you could
stoke the double sexes are cranking but
it's not nearly as rough as it was when
we first came off the pads
there you go the flash with the solid
rocket booster separation you can see
from the lack of vibration of all the
body should have smoothly get the second
stage just incredibly smooth
see Mike took Susan's new car that she
had placed over her hood to prevent the
fit for coming into her eyes like it was
I jump a launch pad and its second stage
we raise our visors
right there you saw a Pico the g-forces
came off the body and then three Jesus
till three Jesus LG is still GOG it
still feels great to be up here and we
should appreciate all the hard work the
way it does a quick turnaround at that
the word about the end game to get is
that pin
well I'll be a Houston Janice and Roger
welcome back to space lab