The Mission Control Room had an immense map of the world spread across its 140 feet breadth. It showed the actual and projected trajectories of the Shuttle. Along both sides of the map were several large rear projection video screens. They displayed the various camera angles of the launch pad, the interior of the Shuttle's cargo hold, the cockpit itself and an assortment of other shots that the scientists deemed important to the success of each flight.
T-MINUS 90 SECONDS AND COUNTING
"At the T-Minus one minute mark, the ground launch sequencer will verify that the main shuttle engines are ready to start."
T-MINUS 80 SECONDS AND COUNTING
"Liquid hydrogen tanks now reported at flight pressure."
The data monitors scrolled charts and numbers. The computers spewed out their data, updating it every few seconds as the screens flickered with the changing information.
T-MINUS 70 SECONDS AND COUNTING
The Voice of Mission Control continued its monotone countdown. Every airline passenger is familiar with the neo-Texas twang that conveys sublime confidence, even in the tensest of situations.
The Count-down monitor above the global map decremented its numbers by the hundredths of seconds, impossible for a human to read but terribly inaccurate by computer standards.
"Coming up on T-Minus one minute and counting."