Space Camp Page #4

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Engine test.

Jinx must be ready,

Thursday, 4 p.m.

Max on shuttle during engine test.

How do we change

engine test into lift off?

Worst-case scenario--

thermal curtain failure.

Define "thermal curtain failure."

Failure of heat shield

during engine test.

Only one booster will ignite.

Result-forced launch.

Why launch?

If you do not light

the second booster at launch,

the shuttle will lift off

and crash.

That is unacceptable.

To avoid worst-case scenario,

second booster must be ignited.

Result-perfect launch.

Thermal curtain failure possibilities?

One thermal curtain failure

every 4.9 million years.

Max won't live that long.

Max needs

thermal curtain failure.

Max and Jinx friends...

forever.

I can't believe our luck!

We get to sit inside the shuttle.

Hold at T minus 60 minutes

until the test firing

of the three main engines

aboard Atlantis.

At this time,

the orbiter test conductor...

- Pretty cool, huh?

- Yeah.

- You all right?

- Yeah.

You heard

just a few minutes ago...

It's amazing, isn't it?

I can't believe our luck!

...countdown cut-off procedures.

We will continue the countdown

on board the shuttle...

The engine ignition occurs

at about six seconds

prior to T minus zero.

Everything has been

continuing to go very smoothly

here in the firing room

at the Launch Control Centre

and out at Launch Pad 39A.

Once again, the duration

of this test firing

will be between 20

and 22 seconds.

The test should be completed

at the plus time shown on the clock,

a mission-elapsed time

of approximately 15 seconds.

The next 20 minutes are going to be

the most exciting of your life.

Twenty minutes?

I wish twenty days!

Max into shuttle.

Engine test into launch.

Max into space.

Our NASA test director

will be verifying...

We don't have

a lot of time in here.

Watch your heads

when you come in.

Look at this place!

- I feel like a real explorer!

- It is so incredible!

- Is that a closet?

- No.

Everybody take the seats that

you were assigned in the simulator.

Kathryn and Kevin,

get up in your seats.

In space it doesn't matter

where the seats are.

- How do you get up'?

- Just hop up.

There you go.

The only thing missing here

is a tape deck.

Pilot and Commander strapped in.

This is amazing!

It's better than

the Millennium Falcon!

I can't believe they actually fly this.

Max, Tish, take your seats

on the mid-deck.

If you need any help,

just holler.

Roger, Commander.

I'll arm the laser guns.

May the Force be with you.

Please put on your helmets

and make sure

your headsets are plugged in.

Pilot and Commander,

unstow cue cards.

Roger.

Cue cards? Right.

APU fuel.

Right RSC cross-feed.

Is everybody set?

- Roger.

- Roger.

- Kevin, look at that!

- It's a bunch of numbers to me.

Control, this is Atlantis.

Do you copy?

Roger, Atlantis.

This is Launch Control.

Radio check, over.

Solid Rocket Boosters A and B,

ignition off.

- Stand by for main engine test.

- Stand by.

Atlantis, do you copy'?

She's all yours.

Go ahead.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

Come on, will you

answer the man?

Thanks.

Control, this is Atlantis.

Radio check satisfactory. Over.

I heard that, Kathryn!

Stand by for FRF ignition.

Counting down.

T minus ten...

...nine...eight...

seven...six...

five...

four...

three...two...

ONE...

Go for main engine test.

We have main engine start.

T plus five...

Max needs thermal curtain failure.

...nine...ten...

Oh, my God!

...13...14...

15...16...

Thermal curtain failure.

Max and Jinx friends forever.

...three...four...five...

We have overheat on Booster B.

- Temperature?

- 1,200 degrees and climbing.

Get that thing operational.

The thermal curtain is failing.

Terminate the test.

We're past shutdown temperature.

We can't stop it.

We have thermal curtain failure.

What does that mean?

Booster B--

temperature is critical.

Kathryn, get out of there now!

Andie, make 'em stop!

Make 'em turn it off!

They're trying!

Booster B is near ignition.

It's gonna light.

Andie, help us!

Light Booster A!

Launch us or we're gonna explode!

What's happening?!

Please, Andie!

Grab her, Rudy!

- Do it.

- Zach, we're not authorized.

Light it or they're gonna die.

Ignite Booster A.

- Five...four...

- Arm booster igniters.

Booster igniters armed.

- Rudy, hold on to her!

- I'm trying!

Go for launch! Now!

Light it.

Kathryn!

Get in the seat!

Go, baby, go.

My God!

We have lift off.

Bye, Max.

Instituting roll manoeuvre, Atlantis.

Roger, Control.

Roll manoeuvre complete.

Atlantis, you're looking good.

Do you want to take it?

Jesus Christ, Zach!

I guess you're not going to

have to wait so long after all.

You're going to have to throttle.

Atlantis, this is Control.

Throttle.

Copy, Control.

Main engines at 65%.

Kathryn, just hang on!

It's three G's.

I know it's tough.

Kevin, you've got to drop

the solid boosters.

They're on your side.

Now arm SRB separation.

I don't know which ones!

Panel C-3.

On your right side.

Atlantis, you are go

for SRB separation.

Hit it!

Control, this is Atlantis.

We have SRB separation.

- Over.

- They have SRB sep.

Atlantis, this is Control.

Press for MECO.

You are go for main engine cut off.

Roger.

This will be the lead story...

MECO is on schedule. Over.

I don't know where

this drill's gonna end, baby.

Hang in there.

Roger.

MECO is on schedule. Over.

Control, this is Atlantis.

Do you read? Over.

Atlantis.

We're losing her.

This bird wasn't flight-ready.

They only have short-range radio.

Sh*t!

Kevin, we have MECO.

Go for ET sep on my mark.

Three...two...

One!

Do you know where it is?

I think so. Got it!

They got their OMS burn.

They're still climbing.

Come on!

Tracking reads Atlantis

at 180 by 33.

They're in orbit.

I didn't touch

a thing, Andie. Honest.

I know, Rudy.

Well, ladies and gentlemen,

I think we've achieved orbit.

Jesus!

- Kathryn, are you okay?

- I think so.

You're floating.

Just relax and allow yourself

to flow with it.

I could lose the lift off,

but this is incredible!

Weightlessness!

This is unreal!

I feel like I'm flying.

- We're in space, Kevin.

- I can't believe it.

Max, Tish, are you okay?

- Why me'?

- I feel sick.

We're gonna die.

We're already dead.

This feels like a dream.

Kevin, is this incredible or what?

You got more guts than me, Rudy.

- Man coming through.

- Oh, my God.

It's like magic.

Max, you gotta try this flying.

Watch your head, Max.

- Are you all in one piece?

- I think so.

- Good.

- Jesus.

Well, I think we have

a few things to talk about.

A few things?

Yeah.

Maybe you can touch

those stars now, huh?

Let me see.

Is that Earth?

Sure is, Max.

That's the coast

of Africa right there.

And there's the Swiss Alps.

It goes by so fast.

What an amazing sunset.

Boy, I could stay

up here forever.

Me too.

Andie, I wanna go home.

- What went wrong, Andie?

- What's a thermal curtain failure?

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