Hello, my friends, this is Dr. Beter. Today is April 27, 1981, and this is my AUDIO LETTER No. 64.

“T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, ’ve gone for main engine start. We have main engine start.“ (Engine noise takes over for some two seconds) “...liftoff of America’s first Space Shuttle, and the Shuttle has cleared the tower.“ (Then again the roaring noise on the AUDIO LETTER tape.) And that’s how it all began, my friends, just two weeks ago--Sunday, April 12, 1981. After years of delay, America’s first attempt to launch a space shuttle into orbit had finally begun. My three special topics for this AUDIO LETTER are: Topic #1--THE ADVANCE PREPARATIONS FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION Topic #2--THE ABORTED FLIGHT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE “COLUMBIA“ Topic #3--THE NASA COVERUP OF THE “COLUMBIA“ DISASTER.