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How to Launch a Space Shuttle

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Department: 
The Space Shuttle
Teaser: 

"NASA and its contractors must work their way through a massive checklist -- from payload readiness and an oxygen purge to weather conditions -- before they get the go-ahead to launch."

Link: 

Launching a Shuttle: NASA Countdown to Blastoff

Source: 

Wired Top Stories Download time: May 25 2010 8:38 AM ET

Before a space shuttle can take off — something slated to happen for the last time later this year — Launch Control works its way through a massive checklist. Here's what NASA and its contractors have to do before the launch gets the thumbs-up.

Listen: Mike Leinbach, the shuttle launch director, describes the stages of the pre-launch checklist.…