So, we were all ready for launch. All of the VIPs rolled out to the VIP viewing area. Up across the Banana River was the shuttle on Pad 39-B ready for launch. The bleachers were filled with people so I guess this mission really had lots of media attention. The countdown clock was on its planned hold at T-9 minutes. Columbia would launch, right?

As the clock ticked down, people were ready to see a view of a lifetime. The national anthem was sung and there were only 2 minutes left. With the countdown clock mostly blocked by people, I sat there trying to catch a glance of the time left. Over the speakers, the final seconds were being announced and all we could do was wait...

...7...6... The announcer stopped and I counted 5 seconds in my head, but nothing happened. Columbia did not move. The clock was frozen at 5 seconds. Slowly, we heard the voices in the Firing Room telling the astronauts to "safe" different parts of the shuttle. Two men sitting in front of me said, "They're safing the vehicle. It's not going up today. Let's leave." I hoped they were wrong, but it was true; the launch was aborted.

What happened was at T-6 hydrogen was detected at very high levels in the aft compartment of the engines. The engineers called cutoff and at 6-1/2 seconds, the launch sequence was cut. That meant that in another half a second the main engines would have fired and they would have had to be replaced. Fortunately, that was not the case. A 48-hour turnaround was in effect (the shuttle would launch 2 days later) because some thrusters were fired and need to be replaced. At the Press Conference on NASA-TV at 2:30 a.m. (I was pretty tired and frustrated by this time), it was announced that the high hydrogen level readings were only because of a faulty sensor so the launch would go in two days.

I really hope the shuttle will launch now. This mission has been delayed countless of times already, and many people are looking forward to the launch. Commander Collins must be irked too as this is almost as close you can get to liftoff without launch. Also, fellow ambassador Sabrina is unable to see the launch. If the shuttle does not launch today (or actually tomorrow), it won't launch for a while. So, let's all have positive wishes and let's see a rocket launch off!