COMMENTATOR ALLARD BEUTEL: Ten seconds. We have "go" for main engine
start... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... booster ignition, and liftoff of
shuttle Discovery, gambatte kudasai, best of luck to the International
Space Station's newest laboratory.
COMMANDER MARK KELLY: (Inaudible) Discovery roll program.
CAPCOM: Roger, roll Discovery.
COMMENTATOR ROB NAVIUS: Houston now controlling of the flight of
Discovery, of man-made rising sun on behalf of Japan.
Discovery on the proper alignment, heads down, wings level, for the eight and a
half minute ride to orbit, four and a half million pounds of hardware and humans
taking aim on the International Space Station.
At 36 seconds into flight, the three liquid fuel main engines now throttling back to
72 percent of rated performance, going in the bucket, reducing the stress on the
shuttle as it goes supersonic.
Discovery already five miles in altitude, eight and a half miles down range,
traveling almost 1, 000 miles an hour.
CAPCOM: Discovery, Houston, go at throttle up.
KELLY: Roger go at throttle up.
NAVIUS: Throttle up call acknowledged by Commander Mark Kelly, joined on the
flight deck by Pilot Ken Ham, Flight Engineer Ron Garan, and Mission Specialist
Karen Nyberg. Down on the middeck are Mike Fossum, Akihiko Hoshide, and
Greg Chamitoff, heading for a half year on the International Space Station.
One minute, 45 seconds into the flight, Discovery 22 miles in altitude, 23 miles
down range, standing by for solid rocket booster separation.
Booster officer confirms staging, a good solid rocket booster separation.