 From Launch Complex 39 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this is Shuttle Launch Control at T-minus three hours and holding. We're now in the final five hours of the countdown for the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia on Mission STS-80. The countdown is being controlled from Firing Room 3 at the Launch Control Center. And we're on schedule for a lift off at 2.53 p.m. Eastern Time this afternoon. This is the 21st flight for Space Shuttle Columbia and the 80th mission of the Space Shuttle program since launches began in April 1981, 15 years ago. There are three objectives of the STS-80 mission to deploy the Orpheus SPAS satellite holding a complement of ultraviolet telescopes to study the lifestyle of stars and galaxies. And to deploy the Wake Shield facility to grow thin substrate films for high-speed electronic chips and advanced electronic components. The mission duration for STS-80 is planned as 15 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes. And Columbia will be in a 219-statute-mile-high circular orbit. Assuming on time launch today, the landing is planned to occur at the Kennedy Space Center on the morning of December 5th at approximately 7.37 a.m. In the astronaut quarters, the five-member flight crew of Columbia are just now being awakened. And in approximately a half hour, they will be entering the dining room for breakfast. Afterward, they will have a weather briefing and receive a status on the countdown activity. They will then go to the suit-up room and don their flight suits. And at about 11.38 this morning, depart for the 20-minute ride out to Launch Pad 39B at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The final inspection team is now at the Launch Pad beginning their activities where they will be for approximately the next two hours. They have several objectives while they're there. They assess the integrity of the thermal insulation on the external tank. They look for any ice or frost formations on the tank and measure temperatures on various parts of the vehicle. Here we see our STS-80 flight crew. Astronaut Story Musgrave down on the end. He'll be in charge of the Wake Shield facility activity on this mission. Here's our flight engineer, Tom Jones. He'll be working the remote manipulator system. Doing an EBA and there's our commander, Ken Cockrell. There is mission specialist, Tamara Jernigan. We eat on our Orpheus Spies and we'll be doing one of the crew space walks. And there is pilot Ken Rummiger at the end of the table. And the crew just getting ready for breakfast. There's the STS-80 traditional cake on the table. And when breakfast is over they'll head down to suit up and head out for the launch pad, which is just about an hour away at this time. Here in firing room three of the Launch Control Center, all of our activities continue to go smoothly. The final inspection team is on the pad. This is shuttle launch control at T-minus three hours and holding. We're in the suit up room and we see our commander, Ken Cockrell. He's in his suit up activities today. And originally from Boston, Texas. And our pilot, Ken Rummiger. Mission specialist, Dr. Tammy Jernigan. He's one of our EBA astronauts on this mission. And going across the room there is mission specialist Tom Jones. He'd be our flight engineer on this mission. And he will take the lead in operating the remote manipulator system, mechanical arm. Here is Story Musgrave making his sixth flight into space. Tying the record along with veteran astronaut John Young. He will be the lead astronaut associated with the weight shield facility activities on this flight. And we're providing EBA support while Tom Jones and Tammy Jernigan are out in the payload bay. And back now at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center where the final inspection team has reached the mobile launcher platform and is wrapping up their ice inspections and final inspection activities. Walk down the entire nearly 400 foot structure as they entered the pad about an hour and a half ago. Here we see the STS-80 astronauts leaving the crew quarters in route to the elevator to ride down from the third to the first floor to ride the astronaut van out to pad 39B. And here they come where we see our Commander Ken Cockrell in the white room helped by the suit technicians prepare for entry into the crew module. This is shuttle launch control at T-minus two hours, 13 minutes 37 seconds in counting. We're in the picture now we see pilot Kent Romager waiting to board mission specialist Dr. Tammy Jernigan about to be assisted with her launch and entry suit. She will be one of the two astronauts along with Tom Jones that will be doing an EBA on this flight designed to evaluate equipment and procedures for building the International Space Station. 555 and 556 are complete. On the second EVA the space walkers will evaluate EVA tethers. Story Musgrave now going into the crew module. CCFB and RCRT OTC on 200. CCFB. RCRT. Step 673. Roger. This is the main engine helium purge sequence which prepares the engines for main engine start. Main engine's now being gimbled as a steering check for Columbia. Beanie cap, the gaseous oxygen vent hood now being retracted. Number two on expected errors. OTC copies. And Columbia OTC closing lock divisors initiate O2 slow and enjoy a weight loss main skidding. Rain safety systems armed. Ten, nine, eight. Ignition sequence start. Seven, six, three main engines up and burning. One, and liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia on a diversified vision of astronomy and commercial space research. CCFB. Roger roll Columbia. Houston is now controlling. The roll maneuver is complete. Columbia is in a heads down wings level position headed to its 190 nautical mile orbit. Flight Columbia's engines are now beginning to throttle down to 67% of rated thrust. As the orbiter passes through the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle in the lower regions of the Earth's atmosphere. Go ahead throttle up. Columbia's three liquid fuel engines are now back at full throttle 104% of rated thrust. Columbia now traveling 1800 miles per hour, 15 miles in altitude down range from the Kennedy Space Center 13 miles. All three main engines continuing to perform well. The next event will be the burnout and separation of Columbia's twin solid rocket boosters. The Houston performance nominal. Two minutes 18 seconds into the flight. The booster officer has confirmed good separation of the solid rocket boosters and performance on board Columbia has been as expected. All three main engines are continuing to perform at 104% of rated thrust. The three auxiliary power units and fuel cells are also continuing to perform as expected. Columbia now down range from the Kennedy Space Center at a distance of 55 miles and altitude of 42 miles traveling 3,290 miles per hour. Thank you for watching.