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LAUNCH COVERAGE ,NASA's Launch Blog - Mission STS-116
by Arthur Rowe 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 LAUNCH COVERAGE - Dec 7th, 2006 NASA's Launch Blog - Mission STS-116 NASA's launch blog was activated on December 7, 2006 at 3:25 p.m. EST + View All Launch Day Videos 5:01 p.m. - In the astronaut crew quarters, the crew is receiving a weather briefing. It's still cloudy at the Florida spaceport, but with four-and-a-half hours left until launch, there is still time for the weather to become more cooperative. 4:48 p.m. - With its inspection complete, the Ice Team is leaving the launch pad and heading back to the Launch Control Center to give Launch Director Mike Leinbach a final report. 4:39 p.m. - The lights have been turned on at the launch pad as the Ice Team is now progressing down to the pad surface. Meanwhile, a gray blanket of clouds has rolled in from the west. 4:35 p.m. - The Ice Team is reporting that the launch pad's water sound suppression system is in good condition and clear of debris. Did You Know? Ground teams have trained for nearly six years to make sure the mission timeline is as efficient and safe as possible. 4:25 p.m. - The countdown clock is holding at T-3 hours. This three hour built-in hold began at 2:40 p.m. 4:10 p.m. - NAVAIDS activation is complete. Did You Know? This will be the 29th nighttime shuttle launch and the first since Nov. 23, 2002, when Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on the STS-113 mission. + Read More 3:58 p.m. - Firing Room 4, our newest firing room, is being used today for our launch team, and will continue to be used for the rest of the shuttle missions through 2010. 3:55 p.m. - In the dining room of the astronaut crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building, the STS-116 astronauts are having a snack and posing for pictures before putting on their pumpkin-colored launch and entry suits. They'll receive an updated weather briefing shortly. Everything is going well with the countdown. All the vehicle's systems are in good shape, and the flight crew and launch team are ready for liftoff tonight at 9:35 p.m. Weather is still a concern, but every few minutes, blue sky and sunlight peek through the clouds associated with today's cold front. 3:50 p.m. - The Ice Team is proceeding to the zero level. The STS-116 crew visited Kennedy Space Center in November to participate in the four-day terminal countdown demonstration test, culminating in a dress rehearsal for launch. + View Video (Real) + View Video (Windows)

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NASA's LAUNCH BLOG MISSION STS-116
by Arthur Rowe 07 Dec '06

07 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 DEC 7TH,2006 NASA's Launch Blog - Mission STS-116 3:58 p.m. - Firing Room 4, our newest firing room, is being used today for our launch team, and will continue to be used for the rest of the shuttle missions through 2010. 3:55 p.m. - In the dining room of the astronaut crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building, the STS-116 astronauts are having a snack and posing for pictures before putting on their pumpkin-colored launch and entry suits. They'll receive an updated weather briefing shortly. Everything is going well with the countdown. All the vehicle's systems are in good shape, and the flight crew and launch team are ready for liftoff tonight at 9:35 p.m. Weather is still a concern, but every few minutes, blue sky and sunlight peek through the clouds behind today's cold front. 3:50 p.m. - The Ice Team is proceeding to the zero level. 3:45 p.m. - The STS-116 crew visited Kennedy Space Center in November to participate in the four-day terminal countdown demonstration test, culminating in a dress rehearsal for launch. + View Video (Real) + View Video (Windows) 3:42 p.m. - It's gray and overcast at Kennedy Space Center as the cold front moves through. Weather is the only concern so far today. At Launch Pad 39B, Space Shuttle Discovery stands poised for liftoff, despite the gloomy skies. 3:40 p.m. - The Ice Team has arrived at the pad's 135 foot level to continue the inspection of the external tank. 3:25 p.m. - Good afternoon, and welcome to our live coverage of the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-116 mission. Liftoff is set for 9:35 p.m. tonight, and the countdown is proceeding very smoothly, with no technical concerns. The weather, however, is another matter: A cold front is passing through Kennedy Space Center today, and it's expected to bring low cloud ceilings, winds and possible isolated rain to the Florida spaceport. For this reason, the official forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron indicates only a 40 percent chance of favorable weather. Further complicating matters, weather is iffy at all three of NASA's transoceanic alternative landing sites in Spain and France. The following events took place before we activated the blog today. At 12:30 a.m., the Rotating Service Structure was rolled back to its parked position, getting Discovery ready for tanking. The Mission Management Team gave the go-ahead for tanking at 11:15 a.m. this morning, and fueling operations began at 11:33 a.m. with the chilldown thermal conditioning of the propellant lines and Discovery's internal plumbing. The chilldown prepares the systems for the shock of the nearly 500,000 gallons of super-cold cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants that are pumped into the external tank. The umbilical vent line provides continuous venting of the external tank during and after loading of the volatile liquid hydrogen. The vent line is disconnected from the vehicle at first motion and retracts vertically downward to a stored position. Tanking operations are complete, and the external tank is in stable replenish as of 2:29 p.m. The tank will continue to be "topped off" for the remainder of the countdown. Inside the astronaut crew quarters in Kennedy's Operations and Checkout Building, the seven-member STS-116 crew received their "wake-up call" at 11:45 a.m. and began their preparations for launch today. They will don their flight suits and depart for the pad early this evening. The engine cut-off (ECO) sensors in the external tank were tested during tanking, and all four are performing as expected. The MILA tracking station here on Merritt Island, Fla. has aligned its communications antennas with the launch pad, and initial communications checks with the Air Force-controlled Eastern Range have been performed. The Final Inspection Team (also known as the Ice Team) reached the pad at 2:48 and began its inspection of the external tank. The team's seven NASA and contractor personnel assess the integrity of the thermal insulation on the external tank. They also look for ice and frost formations on the tank, measure temperatures on various parts of the vehicle, and assess debris concerns on the vehicle and pad that could impact launch or flight safety. During the two-hour inspection, team members take the launch pad's elevator from the surface of the mobile launcher platform up to the 255 foot level, and methodically work their way back down. Using binoculars and a telescope, the team can get a better look at hard-to-see areas. This launch marks the first use of a new ice detection machine. The Orbiter Closeout Crew has arrived at the White Room on the end of the Orbiter Access Arm catwalk that connects to Discovery's crew module. They'll make the final preparations for the astronauts' arrival at the pad at about 6 p.m. Again, welcome, and thanks for joining us today. Stay with us for continuing coverage.

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Shuttle will play starring role in night sky
by Arthur Rowe 06 Dec '06

06 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 Permission granted by The Eagle Tribune N. Andover. Mass. to use this article Shuttle will play starring role in night sky By Courtney Paquette Staff Writer Residents who step into their backyards and gaze at the sky tomorrow night could see the space shuttle - perhaps for one of the last times. Discovery will be launched tomorrow from the Kennedy Space Center to hook up with the International Space Station. Because Discovery is lifting off at night and following a flight plan that directs it over New Hampshire, residents will be able to see the flames from its engines between seven and eight minutes after it leaves the launch pad at 9:35 p.m. Thursday December 7th,2006 "You'll see a moderately fast-moving yellow star," said Peter Bealo of Plaistow, an amateur astronomer. "It'll look like a very bright airplane." "It should be the brightest thing in the sky, except for the moon," said James Ryan, a physics professor at the University of New Hampshire. It is a rare night launch for NASA. The last one was four years ago, when the space shuttle Columbia lifted off in the evening to work on the Hubble telescope. A shuttle's launch time is determined by where it needs to be in space and when it needs to return to Earth, Ryan said. Night launches are rare because daytime launches allow for easier landings and access to alternative landing sites if something goes wrong, he said. Daytime launches also allow NASA to get better pictures of what's happening to the shuttle. That is why night launches were halted after the Columbia accident in 2003 that killed seven astronauts. A piece of foam broke off during the launch and damaged the ship, causing it to break up upon re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere. All those elements make this nighttime launch special, and maybe one of the last. "There's only another 10 to 12 shuttle launches anyhow for the whole program," Bealo said. "On average, there's one night launch out of eight or 10." After liftoff, Discovery begins a 12-day mission to rendezvous with and work on the International Space Station, according to David McDonald, education director at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord. Discovery's crew will install solar panels on the space station, which is supposed to be completed by 2010. That's when NASA plans to decommission the shuttle fleet. Discovery also will swap one crew member, he said. The launch, Bealo said, could be scrubbed because of bad weather. Yesterday, NASA said the chances of weather favorable for a launch were 70 percent. Good weather, clear skies and a view of a flat southern horizon are key to seeing the launch from spots in New Hampshire, Bealo said. He invites others to come to Timberlane Regional High School and watch it from the fields behind the school with him. For the viewing audience * Make sure to be outside seven minutes after the launch at 9:35 p.m. That's when the flames from the shuttle's engines will be visible. * Using binoculars will allow you to see the shuttle for another 30 minutes. * Looking to the south in an area where there are few trees and little artificial light will provide for optimum viewing. Good places to see the shuttle include Timberlane Regional High School athletic field, Hampton Beach, and Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, Mass. * Those who would rather "fly" the space shuttle can visit the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord. The planetarium has a flight simulator that mimics flying the space shuttle Discovery.

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Navy ship named for Alan Shepard Jr
by Arthur Rowe 06 Dec '06

06 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC Permission grant by The Eagle Tribune N. Andover.Ma to use this article. Published: 12/06/2006 Navy ship named for Alan Shepard Jr. By Shelley J. Thompson Staff writer A new Navy ship will be christened today in the name of astronaut Alan Shepard Jr., the first American in space and one of Derry's famous sons. Former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu is slated to give the principal address at the ceremony this morning in California. The ship, the USNS Alan Shepard, will launch from the General Dynamics National Steel and Ship Building Co. in San Diego. "I think he'd be damned proud," Derry historian Richard Holmes said yesterday. "He was always proud of being a Naval officer." Shepard, who died in 1998 from leukemia, served in the Navy for about 30 years until 1974, when he retired from the Navy and NASA. He was one of the Mercury astronauts named by NASA in 1959 and was the first American in space in 1961. He is one of a dozen Americans to walk on the moon. Holmes said Derry residents would be proud to know the Navy chose to honor Shepard. "We're all very excited about it," said Pinkerton Academy trustee Marion Pounder, Shepard's classmate in the Class of 1940. She said Shepard always gave the academy credit for a good background, not only in the classroom, but in his other activities at the school. "Shep," as he was known, was active in drama and athletics at Pinkerton. According to an issue of the alumni magazine published after he died, Shepard knew early in life that the Navy was in his future. "Aye, Aye, Sir," was the saying published with his yearbook photo Pinkerton Academy Headmaster Mary Anderson said the academy is "thrilled that the U.S. Navy has chosen to honor one of our own. May the USS Alan Shepard sail proudly and safely." The Alan Shepard, a 689-foot ship with a top speed of 20 knots, is a combat support ship that will deliver supplies to Navy ships, transfer cargo and provide logistical support, according to Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., who announced the christening and launch in a statement this week. "New Hampshire can be proud of the role the USNS Alan Shepard will play in providing for our Navy's readiness well into the 21st century," Sununu said in the statement. Name game Across the country are schools and buildings in Alan Shepard Jr.'s name. Some of them are: r* *Alan B. Shepard Jr. Post Office, Derry r* *Alan B. Shepard Highway, Interstate 93 in New Hampshire r* *Alan B. Shepard Elementary School in Bourbonnais, Ill. r* *Alan Shepard Elementary School in Long Grove, Iowa r* *Alan B. Shepard Middle School in San Antonio, Texas r* *Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, Ill. r* *Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award given by the Astronauts Memorial Fund at the Kennedy Space Center

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LAUNCH COVERAGE 12-06-06
by Arthur Rowe 06 Dec '06

06 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 LAUNCH COVERAGE Space Shuttle Mission STS-116 Orbiter: Discovery Mission: Space Station Assembly Building 12A.1 Payload: P5 Integrated Truss Segment Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2006 Launch Time: 9:35 p.m. EST Launch Pad: 39B Landing Date: Dec. 19, 2006 Landing Time: 4:35 p.m. EST Mission Duration: 12 days Launch Remains on Target for Thursday Commander Mark Polansky tries on his launch and entry suit. Image above: Commander Mark Polansky tries on his orange launch and entry suit during a fit check at Kennedy Space Center three days before launch. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett + View Larger Image(SEE http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html) Liftoff remains targeted for 9:35 p.m. Thursday -- the midpoint of a 10-minute window. However, an approaching cold front is expected to bring a blanket of cloud cover to the area Thursday, so the forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of weather prohibiting launch. Other than weather, there are no other issues expected to affect the launch time. Final preparations at Launch Pad 39B are on schedule and going well, and Space Shuttle Discovery and the STS-116 payloads are in good shape for flight. Led by Commander Mark Polansky, the seven crew members arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday afternoon. On Tuesday, they had breakfast with their families, and while Polansky and Pilot Bill Oefelein spent part of Tuesday evening flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft, Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick, Christer Fuglesang and Sunita Williams checked the fit of their orange launch and entry suits. The Launch Team Learn more about the NASA team that's responsible for the events that lead up to the liftoff of mission STS-116. + Meet the Launch Team

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ARISS Event - Erweiterte Realschule Weiskirchen, Germany, Fri (Dec 8) at 21:50 UTC
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 06 Dec '06

06 Dec '06

An International Space Station Expedition 14 ARISS school contact has been planned with students at Erweiterte Realschule Weiskirchen, Germany on Friday 8 Dec. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 21:50 UTC. The contact will be a direct between stations RS0ISS and DN1ERW . The contact should be audible in most of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. Additional listening options are listed below. The participants are expected to conduct the conversation in German. ERS Weiskirchen is a general education school where the pupils can achieve a standard and secondary graduation. The school participates as one of 11 pilot schools from the federal states Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Hessen in the project "Innovative all-day school". As special example concerning the project, the school has successfully performed the launch of a balloon to the stratosphere in cooperation with the radio club "DARC Ortsverbandes Wadern, Q21". Following this contact with radio technology, a core-team of interested pupils has been formed. With the support of radio amateurs, a radio station has been set up and a radio club has been founded. Several students have passed examinations and are now amateur radio licensees, operating with their own callsign. Students will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Welches Fach muss man studiert haben, um Astronaut zu werden? 2. Muss man sehr sportlich sein, um Astronaut zu werden? 3. Wie lange haben Sie sich für den Flug vorbereitet? 4. Wie ist die ISS amateurfunktechnisch ausgestattet? 5. Können die Funkgeräte in Dauerbetrieb bleiben oder würde dann zu viel Energie verbraucht? 6. Kann man aus der ISS mit bloßen Augen auch andere Planeten außer der Erde sehen? 7. Können Sie von der ISS aus Gebäude auf der Erde erkennen? 8. In Kalifornien gibt es häufig Flächenbrände. Konnten Sie welche von der ISS aus sehen? 9. Wie viele Sonnenaufgänge und -untergänge können Sie während einer Umrundung der Erde sehen und wie kontrollieren Sie Ihren persönlichen Tagesrhythmus? 10. Wie gestalten Sie Ihre Freizeit an Bord? 11. Wenn Sie Gitarre spielen, hört sich das in der ISS genauso an wie auf der Erde? 12. Wie sieht Ihr Tagesablauf aus? 13. Wann haben Sie das letzte Mal geduscht? 14. Lassen Sie sich einen Bart wachsen oder können Sie sich im All rasieren? 15. Muss man sich beim Schlafen anschnallen? 16. Schnarcht man in der Schwerelosigkeit, mehr oder weniger als auf der Erde? 17. Wenn jemand von der Crew ernsthaft erkrankt, wie kann ihm geholfen werden? 18. Spürt man einen Rückstoß, wenn man in der Schwerelosigkeit niest? 19. Wie fühlten Sie sich beim Start des Shuttles? 20. Muss man vor der Rückkehr auf die Erde ein besonderes Muskeltraining absolvieren? 21. Was essen Sie an Bord und wie essen Sie? 22. Was erwarten oder wünschen Sie sich von Ihrem weiteren Aufenthalt im All? Please note, the amateur equipment on the ISS is not functioning in the automatic modes properly and may be silent more than usual. The radios are planned to be shutdown in preparation for the upcoming shuttle mission. Information about the next scheduled ARISS contact can be found at http://www.rac.ca/ariss/upcoming.htm#NextContact . Next planned event(s): Thunmanskolan, Knivsta, Sweden - TBD ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.rac.ca/ariss (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). Thank you & 73, Kenneth - N5VHO

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iss packet
by McGrane 05 Dec '06

05 Dec '06

greetings from n2oeq ISS packet is operating simplex on 145.800 73

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-12-05 20:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 05 Dec '06

05 Dec '06

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2006-12-05 20:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Erweiterte Realschule, Weiskirchen D-66709, Germany, direct via DN1ERW (***) Fri 2006-12-08 21:50 UTC (***) During Expedition 14, ARISS expects to have one ARISS school contact per month rather than approximately one per week. It is also anticipated that there many not be many general contacts. STS-116 12A.1 Launch (Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, (***) Patrick KD5PKY, Christer Fuglesang KE5CGR, Suni Williams KD5PLB up) Launch 2006-12-07 02:35 UTC Total number of ARISS school contacts is 258. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The schedule page has been updated as of 2006-12-05 20:00 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2006-11-20 22:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There has been a rumor that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 13/14 on orbit: Thomas Reiter DF4TR Expedition 14 on orbit: Michael Lopez-Alegria KE5GTK Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT Expedition 14 future: Sunita Williams, KD5PLB ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Two Days Until Launch, Preparations Continue
by Arthur Rowe 05 Dec '06

05 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 > > LAUNCH COVERAGE > Space Shuttle Mission STS-116 > > Orbiter: Discovery > Mission: Space Station Assembly Building 12A.1 > Payload: P5 Integrated Truss Segment > Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2006 > Launch Time: 9:35 p.m. EST > Launch Pad: 39B > Landing Date: Dec. 19, 2006 > Landing Time: 4:35 p.m. EST > Mission Duration: 12 days > > Two Days Until Launch, Preparations Continue > > The STS-116 crew members pose for a photo at the Shuttle Landing > Facility. Image above: The seven STS-116 crew members pose for a photo > after arriving at Kennedy Space Center. From left are Mission > Specialist Joan Higginbotham; Pilot Bill Oefelein; Mission Specialists > Robert Curbeam, Christer Fuglesang and Nicholas Patrick; ISS > Expedition 14 Flight Engineer Sunita Williams; and Commander Mark > Polansky. Credit: NASA/KSC > + View Larger Image(WEB > SITE:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/index.html) > > Monday at 11 p.m. EST, NASA's countdown clock blinked to life at the > T-43 hour mark and began ticking down toward the liftoff of Space > Shuttle Discovery on a complex and challenging mission to the > International Space Station. > > Led by Commander Mark Polansky, the seven crew members arrived at > Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday afternoon. Polansky and > Pilot Bill Oefelein spent part of Monday evening flying the Shuttle > Training Aircraft (STA) and checking the fit of their orange launch > and entry suits. They'll complete another STA flight tonight while > Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas > Patrick, Christer Fuglesang and Sunita Williams try on their suits. > > Liftoff is targeted for 9:35 p.m. Thursday -- the midpoint of a > 10-minute launch window. > > The Launch Team > Learn more about the NASA team that's responsible for the events that > lead up to the liftoff of mission STS-116. > + Meet the Launch Team > >

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STS-116 LAUNCH BLOG
by Arthur Rowe 04 Dec '06

04 Dec '06

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468 LAUNCH COVERAGE NASA's Launch Blog - Mission STS-116 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/launch/lau… *NASA's launch blog will begin live coverage on Dec. 7, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. EST. * *Did you know?* If the countdown clock reads T-26 hours and counting, that doesn't mean the space shuttle will launch in 26 hours. During every space shuttle countdown, there are several times when the clock is temporarily stopped. These periods are called "built-in holds," and they vary in length from as little as 9 minutes to as long as several hours. For this reason, hold times must be taken into consideration when watching the countdown clock. The space shuttle team uses built-in holds to synchronize with other countdown clocks, monitor weather events, make final adjustments to the launch time, and check all systems before proceeding. During the countdown the liquid oxygen vent on the external tank is opened to allow the super-cold liquid oxygen to boil off, thus preventing over pressurization while the tank remains near its full level. Once the space shuttle's on board computers start their terminal launch sequence, any problem after that point will require calling a "hold" and the countdown recycled to T minus 20 minutes.

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