[net.columbia] Countdown Starts

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (07/11/85)

At 1100 EDT today, the countdown for the nineteenth space shuttle
mission started with the call to stations.  Liftoff for the purely
scientific mission is scheduled for 1630 EDT Friday, only the third
afternoon shuttle launch.  

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (07/28/85)

The countdown for the Challenger mission began at 0900
EDT today, and NASA reported that the ship's hydraulic
fluid had been purged of air buildup several hours ahead
of scheduled, leaving closing the aft compartment the
only job left to get back on track.  Liftoff is scheduled
for 1523 EDT Monday.

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (08/22/85)

he countdown for Saturday's launch began at 0300 EDT today.
During the mission of the Discovery, three satellites, for
the Australian Government, American Satellite Co., and Hughes,
will be deployed.  Later, a rescue/repair attempt will be
made on the stranded Syncom satellite.  One astronaut, at the
end of the RMS, will grab the satellite, attach a handle, and
hand it to another in the cargo bay.  Then, the two will bypass
the automatic timer on the satellite and install wiring allowing
ground controllers to activate its post-deployment sequence.
If all goes well, the satellite will then be redeployed.