(Music/Rumbling)
Various Launch Commentators: NASA teams ready, check, five, five, four, four, three,
three, two,
we're approaching mach 1,
one, liftoff, and Pegasus is away,
looks good, over
200,000 feet,
vehicle's recovering very nicely from the liftoff
transient, we're looking real good,
we now have mach 1,
vehicle's now traveling faster
than the speed of sound.
(Music/Rumbling)
Narrator: The Launch Services Program is based at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida,
but its reach is felt throughout the United States and research labs
all over the world.
The Launch Services Program has given life to some of our nation's greatest space
achievements: the Mars rovers, Stardust, Genesis and New Horizons
are just a few of their recent missions.
Narrator: Charged with selecting launch vehicles for NASA's science and
exploration missions,
LSP works with industry partners to define requirements and determine
the best launch vehicle for each mission.
Narrator: Expendable launch vehicles are part of a balanced and diversified launch
capability for NASA.
(Music/Rumbling)
Narrator: Logging more than 50 launches to date and amassing an impressive record
of success, LSP provides an invaluable service to NASA's science and exploration
community.
(Music/Rumbling)
Narrator: As the primary liaison between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle,
LSP is the critical step in making a mission a reality.
Narrator: Once the spacecraft and launch vehicle are complete,
LSP coordinates the timely rendezvous of rocket and spacecraft at the launch site.
Narrator: The launch site is the place where the mission really comes together.
The spacecraft is mounted to the assembled rocket and final testing and
checkouts are conducted.
Narrator: If all systems are go, the mission is declared ready to launch.
Launching one mission to space is hard enough, try juggling a manifest
containing up to 30 missions at any given time.
Narrator: These achievements are a result of the dedicated professionals
at NASA's Launch Services Program -- a team guided by excellence and driven
by a passion for space. Years of reviews, certifications and hard work pay off
with a roar of engines and a brilliant trail of fire and smoke.
(Music/Rumbling)
Various Launch Commentators: Five, four, three, two , one, drop, we have ignition,
and liftoff.
(Music/Rumbling)