🎵
[00:10.48]Coming up on 45 minute point in our countdown
[00:12.98]Everything going smoothly
[00:15.70]T-minus 45 minutes and counting
[00:40.90]Coming up on t-minus 40 minutes
[00:42.86]T-minus 40 minutes and counting
[00:45.73]This is Shuttle launch control
[00:47.56]Lit up with anticipation
[00:50.52]We arrive at the launching site
[00:54.55]The sky is still dark, nearing dawn
[00:58.25]On the Florida coastline
[01:01.88]Circling choppers slash the night
[01:05.57]With roving searchlight beams
[01:09.07]This magic day when super-science
[01:12.58]Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams
[01:18.36]We have an AEO abort go for test
[01:21.42]Tester says they are go for launch
[01:23.71]At the present time we know of no major problems as we enter this final hold
[01:30.85]Floodlit in the hazy distance
[01:34.54]The star of this unearthly show
[01:38.08]Venting vapours, like the breath
[01:41.45]Of a sleeping white dragon
[01:45.39]Crackling speakers, voices tense
[01:48.82]Resume the final count
[01:52.48]All systems check, T minus nine
[01:55.93]As the sun and the drama start to mount
[02:14.48]The air is charged
[02:18.15]A humid, motionless mass
[02:21.63]The crowds and the cameras
[02:25.47]The cars full of spectators pass
[02:28.87]Excitement so thick you could cut it with a knife
[02:36.15]Technology high, on the leading edge of life
[02:49.86](T minus 27 seconds
[02:52.46]We have gone to redundant sequencers start
[02:55.35]T minus 20 seconds and counting
[03:01.46]T minus 15, 14, 13
[03:05.52]T minus ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four
[03:14.19]We have rocket main engine start
[03:15.73]We have main engine start
[03:19.95]We have liftoff)
[03:20.44]The earth beneath us starts to tremble
[03:22.68]With the spreading of a low black cloud
[03:26.23](The shuttle has cleared the tower)
[03:27.02]A thunderous roar shakes the air
[03:29.54]Like the whole world exploding
[03:32.30](Rocket is en route)
[03:33.68]Scorching blast of golden fire
[03:36.97]As it slowly leaves the ground
[03:40.92]Tears away with a mighty force
[03:44.63]The air is shattered by the awesome sound
[03:51.02](T plus 30 seconds, plus 35
[03:59.41]Columbia, Houston you are go at 40)
[04:02.69]Excitement so thick
[04:05.91]You could cut it with a knife
[04:09.83]Technology high, on the leading edge of life
[04:17.37]Like a pillar of cloud, the smoke lingers
[04:21.75]High in the air
[04:24.53]In fascination with the eyes of the world
[04:29.72]We stare...
[05:02.39](Columbia is now turning towards
[05:03.99]Its precise window in space for main engine cutoff
[05:06.80]... 40 seconds
[05:08.63]Columbia now 39 nautical miles altitude
[05:11.26]42 nautical miles downrange
[05:15.86]Columbia you are looking a little hot and all your calls will be a little early
[05:19.70]Young and Crippen really moving out now
[05:21.42]Velocity now reading 6200 feet per second
[05:27.08]What a view, what a view
[05:29.28]Glad you are enjoying it
[05:31.66]G800 to LOS
[05:34.33]Columbia Houston, we have 40 seconds to LOS
[05:37.33]You're looking good burning over the hill,
[05:39.64]We will see you in Madrid and we enjoyed the music
[05:42.27]Bob thank you
[05:42.95]We enjoyed it, just wanted to share some with you.
[05:44.59]🎵