Capricorn One

CAPRICORN ONE

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is Paul Cunningham,

Capricorn Control.

The time is three minutes after six, Eastern Daylight Time.

Were coming up on T minus 32 mins. 21 secs... mark.

To facilitate the broadcast media, we will precede each announcement

with a 5 secs. tone, followed by a 1 sec. pause.

Anyone who hasn't got a press kit can pick one at the information trailer.

At the present time, all systems are go,

all lights are green.

To review the morning for you, at T minus 8 hrs. 5 mins.,

Launch Complex thirty-nine was cleared

and we began to load liquid propellant into the launch vehicle.

At T minus 4 hrs 30 mins.

Colonel Charles Brubaker, the Command Pilot,

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Willis and Commander John Walker

were awakened by Dr. Roger Burroughs, the flight surgeon.

They were given a final physical examination and pronounced all fit.

The crew then had a breakfast consisting of half a grapefruit,

a ten ounce steak,

twelve ounces of orange juice, two eggs and toast.

The crew is now in the gantry access arm,

where they're preparing to enter the spacecraft.

We're at T minus 30 mins. and counting.

This is Capricorn Control.

- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning, Horace.

Are we late?

Traffic was terrible.

Well, I see you're all in good spirits.

- Have you done the EDS test yet? - They're almost completed.

- Do you want us to enter? - In a moment.

What's up?

I'm not very good at things like this.

I've known you, especially Colonel Brubaker,

for some time.

What you're about to do today, I've spent my life.

I'd just like yuh to know that I feel that all I've ever worked for,

it has meaning today, and I'm very proud.

Proud of the program

and proud of what I've been able to contribute in some small way, and

proud of you.

I'd like for you to take this Bible with you,

from me, from all of us.

Why, Horace, I don't know what to say.

- Well, try saying nothing for a change. - Horace...

thank you.

We'd be honored to take this with us.

Well, gentlemen, let's go to Mars.

This is Paul Cunningham, Capricorn Control.

We're now at T minus 21 mins. and counting.

Wives of the flight crew at the Cape will be flown back to Houston

- following launch. - Good morning, Congressman Peaker.

We've reserved three of the best seats for you and for General Enders,

right next to Vice President.

Is he here yet?

No, sir, he's due any moment.

Asshole probably thinks they'll delay the launch for him.

Someone should tell him this is not a bridge opening.

I hope you and Mrs. Peaker will be very comfortable.

The Agency would like you to have these commemorative binoculars

to help you watch the launch and to remember this day.

That's very nice. Look, Emily.

They have the date, Capricorn One emblem in gold.

- Very nice, Hollis. - I'm glad you like them.

Well, we'll need another pair for my wife.

I, I beg your pardon, sir?

Oh, don't make a fuss, Hollis, it's all right.

I said, 'we'll need another pair for my wife.'

- It's really not necessary. - Here, Emily, take mine.

- I really won't need them. - No, I don't...

Congressman Peaker, there's only a limited...

I didn't quite hear what you said. Would you mind repeating it, please?

Oh, there's no problem. I'll get another pair right away.

Very thoughtful of you.

This is Capricorn Control. We are at T minus 15 mins. and counting.

All systems are go. All lights are green.

Mission Control has reported the spacecraft is now on external power.

The launch vehicle will transfer to full internal power at T minus 50 secs.

Both Ascension and Canary tracking stations

report clear reception.

The prime recovery ship, in the event of a terminated flight,

will be the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, which is located 350 nautical miles

South, Southeast of Bermuda. This is Capricorn Control.

- Hello, Emily. - How are you?

- Phyllis? - Hello, Hollis.

Emily, glad to see you. Hollis, how are you?

Very well, Mr. Vice President.

- How is the President today? - Oh, just fine, thank you, Hollis.

He asked me to personally express his regrets at being unable to be here.

There were some pressing matters

that needed his attention in Washington.

Like getting re-elected?

Mr. Vice President? I hope you and Mrs. Price will be very comfortable.

The Agency would like you to have these commemorative binoculars

to help you watch the launch and to remember this day.

- Thank you. - Thank you, very much.

- They're very nice. - What is your name, son?

Hughes, sir. Mark Hughes.

You learn pretty quick.

- You'll do all right. - Thank you, sir.

We're at T minus 10 mins. and counting.

Stage one is green.

Stage two is green.

Stage two is green.

Malfunction Detect System, on second panel.

Roger. M.D.S. On second panel.

Capricorn One, we confirm T.A.R. S and M.D.S. You are green on both.

You are go for Inertial Guidance and O.A.M.S. Checks.

Roger, Houston.

Gentlemen, we're ready to close the hatch.

Anybody wanna get out, this is your last chance.

Hey, Horace, is Mars the red one or the green one? I forgot.

Twenty-four billion dollars to put crazy people into space.

Keeps us off the streets.

Colonel Brubaker has reaffirmed the completion of the EDS checks.

Mission Control reports all systems are go,

all lights are green.

James Kelloway, Director of the Manned Space Program,

is in Houston at this moment.

He is in full voice contact with the flight crew.

Landing Module O.I. Shutdown.

O.I., shutdown complete.

Capricorn One, you should have full C.M. Internal power.

Roger, Houston. We have internal power.

Vehicle final status check.

Begin status check.

- T.L.R. pressure reading is 45.2 - Roger, Houston.

Roger, Capricorn, we copy.

Bru, would you and your men, please, follow me?

Hey, what the hell is this?

There's no time to explain. Please, follow me.

Are you nuts?

I said there's no time to explain! This is an emergency!

Please, follow me, now!

This is Paul Cunningham, Capricorn Control.

The space vehicle final checks have been completed

and the access arm is swinging into a final retract position.

The destruct systems are now fully armed.

- T.L.R. pressure reading is 45.2. - Roger, Houston, 45.2.

The flight crew has completed the launch vehicle range safety checks.

T minus 50 secs. The launch vehicle will be on full internal power,

that begins the actual launch sequence.

The weather is reported good. Scattered clouds at 10.000 feet.

All systems are go. All lights are green.

We're at T minus 3 mins. 6 secs., mark.

An officer has given a go to begin the firing automatic sequence.

From now until T minus 50 secs, that system is pre-set.

Initial stage thruster check is normal.

We're coming up on T minus 1 min. 30 secs.

The final range safety checks are completed.

The Launch Safety Officer reports all systems

are normal and we are Go at this time.

The launch escape tower is now fully armed.

In the event of an abort,

the tower will carry the command module away from the launch vehicle

and will activate a system of control shift at 10.000 feet.

The flight crew reports all guidance and navigation systems

functioning properly.

The Range Safety Officer reports alternating systems are operating.

This is Capricorn Control.

It's that big tall white thing over there.

You can't miss it.

This is Paul Cunningham, Capricorn Control.

We're at T minus 1 min. And still counting.

All systems are go. All lights are green.

We should have launch vehicle power transfer right about now.

Roger, Houston, we read nominal A.L.C.S.

Roger, Capitain.

We're at T minus 30 secs.

At the present time, all systems are go. All lights are green.

Gentlemen, we're going to be a little while.

You and your men might be more comfortable in these.

We're at T minus 18 secs. from lift-off.

We're T minus 15 secs.

T minus 10 secs., nine, eight - we have ignition-

six, five -we have outboard engines-

three -we have inboard engines- one, zero.

We have a launch commit. We have a lift-off at 35 mins. after the hour.

Roger. We are starting yaw.

Roger, roll program complete.

Vehicles on targets and running smoothly.

Looking good, Capricorn.

We're coming up on Tplus 40 secs.

Staging should be in the next - 300 secs.

Outboard cutoff should be 10 secs.

- Obeco, Capricorn. - Roger, Houston.

Have outboard cutoff.

Obeco at Tplus 2 mins. 29 secs. Going for staging.

You are go for staging, Capricorn.

Roger, Houston. Five,

four, three,

two, one.

We reached staging.

We copy.

We have separation. Confirmed. Tplus 2 mins. 43 secs.

- S-two ignition. - We have S-two.

We have second stage ignition.

S- two ignition at Tplus - 2 mins. 46 secs.

The vehicle is 47 miles down range.

Altitude: 43 miles. Velocity: 6.100 miles per hour.