Vanavond om 20:28:11 uur was de lancering van de Atlantis. De laatste negen minuten voor de lancering zag je dat ding puffen en gebeurde er vrij weinig, tenminste, zo líjkt het. Maar wat gebeurt er werkelijk in de laatste negen minuten voor de lancering van een Space Shuttle? Even een overzichtje, geleend van Risa van Cosmic Variance, waarbij aangetekend dat ik géén zin had om ‘t allemaal te vertalen. Can happen. 
| Tijd voor lancering | Tijd | Gebeurtenis |
|---|---|---|
| -9:00 | 20:19:11 | Countdown resumes at the T-9 minute mark |
| -7:30 | 20:20:41 | Orbiter Access Arm (OAA) retract |
| -6:00 | 20:22:11 | Verify Auxiliary Power Units (APU) ready to start |
| -5:01 | 20:23:10 | Launch window opens |
| -5:00 | 20:23:11 | Auxiliary Power Unit start |
| -4:55 | 20:53:16 | Liquid Oxygen replenish terminated |
| -4:00 | 20:24:11 | Purge Sequence 4 hydraulic test |
| -4:00 | 20:24:11 | Inertial Measurement Units to inertial |
| -3:55 | 20:24:16 | Flight Control Surface profile test |
| -3:30 | 20:24:41 | Main Engine profile test |
| -2:55 | 20:25:16 | LO2 tank pressurization |
| -2:50 | 20:25:21 | Gaseous Oxygen Vent Hood retraction |
| -2:35 | 20:25:36 | Fuel Cells begin using internal reactants |
| -2:30 | 20:25:41 | Clear caution and warning memory |
| -2:00 | 20:26:11 | Crew closes visors & initiates oxygen flow |
| -1:57 | 20:26:14 | Liquid Hydrogen tank pressurization |
| -1:40 | 20:06:31 | Solid rocket booster joint heater deactivation |
| -:50 | 20:27:21 | Atlantis to internal power |
| -:31 | 20:27:40 | Onboard computers take control of countdown (T-31 sec) |
| -:21 | 20:27:50 | Solid rocket booster steering test |
| -:06 | 20:28:04 | Main engine start (T-6.6 seconds) |
| Lift Off! | 20:28:11 | LAUNCH |
Bron: Cosmic Variance.
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