Countdown

Coming up on 45 minute point in our countdown Everything going smoothly T-minus 45 minutes and counting Coming up on t-minus 40 minutes T-minus 40 minutes and counting This is Shuttle launch control Lit up with anticipation We arrive at the launching site The sky is still dark, nearing dawn On the Florida coastline Circling choppers slash the night With roving searchlight beams This magic day when super-science Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams We have an AEO abort go for test Tester says they are go for launch At the present time we know of no major problems as we enter this final hold Floodlit in the hazy distance The star of this unearthly show Venting vapours, like the breath Of a sleeping white dragon Crackling speakers, voices tense Resume the final count All systems check, T minus nine As the sun and the drama start to mount The air is charged A humid, motionless mass The crowds and the cameras The cars full of spectators pass Excitement so thick you could cut it with a knife Technology high, on the leading edge of life (T minus 27 seconds We have gone to redundant sequencers start T minus 20 seconds and counting T minus 15, 14, 13 T minus ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four We have rocket main engine start We have main engine start We have liftoff) The earth beneath us starts to tremble With the spreading of a low black cloud (The shuttle has cleared the tower) A thunderous roar shakes the air Like the whole world exploding (Rocket is en route) Scorching blast of golden fire As it slowly leaves the ground Tears away with a mighty force The air is shattered by the awesome sound (T plus 30 seconds, plus 35 Columbia, Houston you are go at 40) Excitement so thick You could cut it with a knife Technology high, on the leading edge of life Like a pillar of cloud, the smoke lingers High in the air In fascination with the eyes of the world We stare... (Columbia is now turning towards Its precise window in space for main engine cutoff ... 40 seconds Columbia now 39 nautical miles altitude 42 nautical miles downrange Columbia you are looking a little hot and all your calls will be a little early Young and Crippen really moving out now Velocity now reading 6200 feet per second What a view, what a view Glad you are enjoying it G800 to LOS Columbia Houston, we have 40 seconds to LOS You're looking good burning over the hill, We will see you in Madrid and we enjoyed the music Bob thank you We enjoyed it, just wanted to share some with you.