WEBVTT

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MIKE CURIE: This is Shuttle Launch Control at T-3 hours and counting.

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Space shuttle Discovery stands awash in the glow of xenon light atop the

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mobile launch platform at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A,

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just hours away from beginning its 34th mission.

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It will be STS-120 and the 120th flight in the Space Shuttle program.

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Discovery's flight crew has been up since 1:30 this morning undergoing

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preflight checks.

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Tanking operations this morning began on time at 2:13 a.m.,

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loading the external tank with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid

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propellants that'll be used by the shuttle's three main engines to lift

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Discovery to orbit.

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Tanking operations went well. There were no problems and the process took

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the expected time, about three hours.

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Tanking operations were completed at 5:12 a.m.

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We're working no serious technical issues or problems this morning.

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After the completion of tanking operations,

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the Final Inspection Team headed to Launch Pad 39A

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and they're in the process of evaluating the pad surface and the vehicle

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to look for the formation of any frost or ice build-up,

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which could become hazards to the vehicle once Discovery lifts off.

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The Final Inspection Team is making its way down from the 255-foot level.

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They're currently at the 135-foot level and have reported no problems at this

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point. New data drops have been installed at the 195-foot and 95-foot levels

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of the fixed service structure to aid the Final Inspection Team in sending

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imagery with the laptop computer to the Launch Control Center for quicker

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image analysis. This is a new process that has begun on this mission. Again,

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there are no technical issues that would preclude launch at this time.

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Weather officers at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Weather Office and in

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Houston at the Spaceflight Meteorology Group are assessing weather today,

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and that will be an issue that we will work throughout the morning as we

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prepare for the launch scheduled at 11:38 a.m. Eastern time.

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We have about an hour and 10 minutes remaining in this hold

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T-3 hours and holding.