MISSION CONTROL: Discovery, Houston. Go at throttle up.
PAM MELROY: Copy. Go at throttle up.
MISSION CONTROL: The three engines onboard are throttling back up. At liftoff,
the fully fueled shuttle boosters and external tank weighed 4 ½ million pounds.
The total thrust at launch was 6,425,000 pounds.
Discovery now 13 miles downrange at an altitude of 13 statute miles,
flying at 1,700 miles per hour. All systems continue to function well.
Three good main engines, three good power-generating fuel cells and
three good auxiliary power units for the hydraulic system.
Discovery now 24 miles downrange at an altitude 23 statute miles,
flying at 2,700 miles per hour. One minute, 58 seconds into the flight,
standing by for burnout and separation of the solid rocket boosters. Combined,
the twin boosters provide 5.3 million pounds of thrust to propel the orbiter toward space.
The booster officer here in Mission Control confirming the booster separation.