"We have a go for auto sequence start. Columbia's forward comput- ers now taking over primary control of critical vehicle functions through lift-off." T-MINUS 30 SECONDS AND COUNTING "What the hell is that?" Mission Specialist Hawkins said to the technician who was monitoring the auto-correlation noise reduc- tion systems needed to communicate with the astronauts once in space. TWENTY NINE "What?" Sam Broadbent took off his earpiece. TWENTY EIGHT "Look at that." Hawkins pointed at the central monitor. TWENTY SEVEN "What does that mean, it's not in the book?" TWENTY SIX "I dunno. No chances though." Hawkins switched his intercom selector to 'ALL', meaning that everyone on line, including the Mission Control Director would hear. TWENTY FIVE "We have an anomaly here . . ." Hawkins said into his mouthpiece. TWENTY FOUR "Specify anomaly, comm," The dry voice returned. Hawkins wasn't quite sure how to respond. The practice runs had not covered this eventuality. TWENTY THREE "Look up at Video 6. Switching over." Hawkins tried to remain unflustered. TWENTY TWO "Copy comm. Do you contain?" TWENTY ONE "Negative Mission Control. It's an override." Hawkins answered. TWENTY - FIRING SEQUENCE NOMINAL The voice of Mission Control annoyed Hawkins for the first time in his 8 years at NASA. "Confirm and update." NINETEEN Hawkins blew his cool. "Look at the goddamned monitor for Chris- sakes. Just look!" He yelled into the intercom. EIGHTEEN "Holy . . .who's . . .please confirm, local analysis," the sober voice sounded concerned for the first time. SEVENTEEN "Confirmed anomaly." "Confirmed." "Confirmed." "Confirmed." The votes streamed in. SIXTEEN "We have a confirm . . ." T-MINUS 15 SECONDS AND COUNTING. TEN "We have a go for main engine start." SEVEN SIX FIVE "We have a main engine start . . .we have a cut off." "Columbia, we have a monitor anomaly, holding at T-minus 5." "That's a Roger, Houston," the commander of Space Shuttle Colum- bia responded calmly. "We have a manual abort override. Columbia's on board computers confirm the cut-off. Can you verify, Columbia?" "That's a Roger." The huge block letter message continued to blaze across the monitors. Craig Volker spoke rapidly into his master intercom system. "Cut network feed. Cut direct feed. Cut now! Now!" All TV networks suddenly lost their signal that was routed through NASA's huge video switches. NASA's own satellite feed was simul- taneously cut as well. If NASA didn't want it going to the public it didn't get sent. CNN got the first interview with NASA officials. "What caused today's flight to be aborted?"