From: utzoo!decvax!duke!harpo!npois!alice!sjb
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Title: Mock Lift Off
Article-I.D.: alice.604
Posted: Sat May 29 22:08:36 1982
Received: Sun May 30 02:47:34 1982


The space shuttle Columbia underwent a mock mission today, 4.5
hours late.  Scheduled to begin at 1100 EDT, the countdown finished
and the Columbia 'lifted off' at 1520 EDT; nevertheless, the
mission was a success, and things are still on schedule for 27
June.  Three problems were encountered:
1)  A computer tried to read the hydraulic pressure inside the
    orbiter, but the hydraulics had not been turned on.
2)  A computer simultaneously told the shuttle to open and close
    cargo bay vents.
3)  A tracking station interrupted signals, which would have
    prevented the reception of data during a real flight.