10
9
8
Ignition Sequence Start.

The turbo pumps came to life. He could feel the rocket move. Vibrations, squeals and rumbles from below.
6
5
4
Ignition.

He could hear the roar. A violent guttural growl as his capsule shook like a terriers tail.
2
The violence rose as the rocket motors spun up to the seven and a half million pounds of rated thrust. The roar growing louder.
1
Liftoff. We have liftoff.

He didn’t feel the explosive bolts blow, but was pressed back into his seat with the force of 4 g’s. His hand hovers over the abort handle. A 90 degree turn to the right and the tower would lift them away from the six million pounds of explosive below, and the six years of training for this mission.

“Oh shit”, he heard Wilson say.

“What!!”, he yelled. He scanned his board. No indication of death about to swat them from the sky. He turned his head to look as Wilson looked up at the panel in front of him.

“I think I left the iron on in my room.”

Sometimes I wonder about Wilson, and other times I’m sure.