goddard's first launch would not have escaped its confines. columbia, through her we expect much, and now sits our expectation in the air, cradled, to be mated with the solid rocket boosters in the external tank -- and the external tank. >> ok, we are rolling out now. narrator: today, it is the day the shuttle passes through the eye of the needle. aboard the elephantine crawler transport, she journeys to pad 39, a trip made with the deliberate speed. ♪ >> landing site capability -- narrator: they rehearse, polish skills, techniques, procedures to come. >> roger. >> you have got data? narrator: wrapped in detail, columbia is not many days from her destination. two 15,000 foot runway's, was california and the other in florida, will accept the returning ships was operational missions began. downrange, stations report. and columbia is scope for lunch. -- go for lunch. >> affirmative, read you loud and clear. >> houston, this is -- >> bermuda. >> contact -- >> roger, let me give you quick voice check. ♪ narrator: the countdown has begun. igniti