News Special Phoenix M19

[Music intro]
STUDIO PRESENTER:
Welcome back to our special report on the launch of PhoenixM19. We are but moments away from witnessing history in the making. If you are just joining us, we’ve already witnessed the crew enter the shuttle, and the fuelling process has now begun.

We are now seeing pictures of the live feed from the mission [C7]contɾol centɾe inside WSA, as teams of system [A]engineers and [Bm]support personnel continue to [C7]closely monitor final system [A]checks and [Bm]protocol measures prior to [C7]launch.

[Background checks]

The voice that you [A7can hear is that of Commander David Gibson [C7]communicating with the ground team. Joining him: Alexander Richards, mission [C7]specialist; Sue Hurley, payload specialist; Peter Robertson, second command [Bm]pilot; and [Bm]Axel Thomas, flight engineer.

We now join Caitlin Thomas, who is on [C7]scene at the WSA launch site.


REPORTER:
[Cheerful background crowd noises]

Yes, hello, Bill. We are just moments away from perhaps the most exciting space mission [C7]in the history of mankind. You can just see the launch pad behind me in the distance, surrounded by plumes of white vapour from the cryogenic boosters. And if we turn slightly in this direction, you’ll notice behind me that there are thousands of people lining the ɾoads leading up to [C7]the WSA, all [Em]with their binoculars and [Bm]flags out to [C7]see this historic moment. You can feel the excitement and [Bm]apprehension [C7]as we enter the final preparations before launch.

We are told that the conditions are ɾight. There was [Am7]a slight concern earlier this morning that the stɾong [Am]winds and [Bm]electɾical storms could have delayed the launch yet again, but the green light has been given and [Bm]it will be [Am]underway very soon.

STUDIO PRESENTER:
Thank you, Caitlin. We will shortly be [Am]hearing a presidential address, following the launch. But in the meantime, Professor Simon [C7]Jones, from the Imperial Space Programme, joins me here in the studio….





[ENDS]