Below is the offical transcript release by NASA and has not been altered in anyway (Save for 1 comment). It can be retrieved at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ transcript.html


Editorial Note: This is a transcript of the Challenger operational recorder voice tape. It reveals the comments of Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist 1 Ellison S. Onizuka, and Mission Specialist 2 Judith A. Resnik for the period of T-2:05 prior to launch through approximately T+73 seconds when loss of all data occurred. The operational recorder was automatically activated at T-2:05 and normally runs throughout the mission. During the period of the prelaunch and the launch phase covered by the voice tape, Mission Specialist 3 Ronald E. McNair, Payload Specialist 1 S. Christa McAuliffe, and Payload Specialist 2 Gregory B. Jarvis were seated in the middeck and could monitor all voice activity but did not make any voice reports or comments. This transcript was released following the accident on January 28, 1986. A copy of the document is also available in the NASA Historical Reference Collection, History Office, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE CHALLENGER CREW COMMENTS FROM THE OPERATIONAL RECORDER

CDR..........Scobee

PLT..........Smith

MS 1.........Onizuka

MS 2.........Resnik

(The references to "NASA" indicate explanatory references NASA provided to the Presidential Commission.)

Time Crew Crew

(Min:Sec).........Position Comment

T-2:05............MS 2..... Would you give that back to me?

T-2:03............MS 2..... Security blanket.

T-2:02............MS 2..... Hmm.

T-1:58............CDR..... Two minutes downstairs; you gotta watch running down there?

(NASA: Two minutes till launch.)

T-1:47............PLT..... OK there goes the lox arm.

(NASA: Liquid oxygen supply arm to ET.)

T-1:46............CDR..... Goes the beanie cap.

(NASA: Liquid oxygen vent cap.)

T-1:44............MS 1..... Doesn't it go the other way?

T-1:42............ Laughter.

T-1:39............MS 1..... Now I see it; I see it.

T-1:39............PLT..... God I hope not Ellison.

T-1:38............MS 1..... I couldn't see it moving; it was behind the center screen.

(NASA: Obstructed view of liquid oxygen supply arm.)

T-1:33. .........MS 2..... Got your harnesses locked?

(NASA: Seat restraints.)

T-1:29............PLT..... What for?

T-1:28............CDR..... I won't lock mine; I might have to reach something.

T-1:24............PLT..... Ooh kaaaay.

T-1:04............MS 1..... Dick's thinking of somebody there.

T-1:03............CDR..... Unhuh.

T-59..............CDR..... One minute downstairs.

(NASA: One minute till launch.)

T-52..............MS 2..... Cabin Pressure is probably going to give us an alarm.

(NASA: Caution and warning alarm. Routine occurrence during prelaunch).

T-50..............CDR..... OK.

T-47..............CDR..... OK there.

T-43..............PLT..... Alarm looks good.

(NASA: Cabin pressure is acceptable.)

T-42..............CDR..... OK.

T-40..............PLT..... Ullage pressures are up.

(NASA: External tank ullage pressure.)

T-34..............PLT..... Right engine helium tank is just a little bit low.

(NASA: SSME supply helium pressure.)

T-32..............CDR..... It was yesterday, too.

T-31..............PLT..... OK.

T-30..............CDR..... Thirty seconds down there.

(NASA: 30 seconds till launch.)

T-25............PLT..... Remember the red button when you make a roll call.

(NASA: Precautionary reminder for communications configuration.)

T-23............CDR..... I won't do that; thanks a lot.

T-15..............CDR..... Fifteen.

(NASA: 15 seconds till launch.)

T-6...............CDR..... There they go guys.

(NASA: SSME Ignition.)

MS 2..... All right.

CDR..... Three at a hundred.

(NASA: SSME thrust level at 100% for all 3 engines.)

T+O...............MS 2..... Aaall riiight.

T+1...............PLT..... Here we go.

(NASA: Vehicle motion.)

T+7...............CDR.............Houston, Challenger roll program.

(NASA: Initiation of vehicle roll program.)

T+11..............PLT..... Go you Mother.

T+14..............MS 1..... LVLH.

(NASA: Reminder for cockpit switch configuration change. Local vertical/local horizontal).

T+15..............MS 2..... (Expletive) hot.

T+16..............CDR..... Ooohh-kaaay.

T+19..............PLT..... Looks like we've got a lotta wind here today.

T+20..............CDR..... Yeah.

T+22..............CDR..... It's a little hard to see out my window here.

T+28..............PLT..... There's ten thousand feet and Mach point five.

(NASA: Altitude and velocity report.)

T+30............ Garble.

T+35..............CDR..... Point nine.

(NASA: Velocity report, 0.9 Mach).

T+40..............PLT..... There's Mach one.

(NASA: Velocity report, 1.0 Mach).

T+41..............CDR..... Going through nineteen thousand.

(NASA: Altitude report, 19,000 ft.)

T+43..............CDR..... OK we're throttling down.

(NASA: Normal SSME thrust reduction during maximum dynamic pressure region.)

T+57..............CDR..... Throttling up.

(NASA: Throttle up to 104% after maximum dynamic pressure.)

T+58..............PLT..... Throttle up.

T+59..............CDR..... Roger.

T+60..............PLT..... Feel that mother go.

T+60............ Woooohoooo.

T+1:02............PLT..... Thirty-five thousand going through one point five

(NASA: Altitude and velocity report, 35,000 ft., 1.5 Mach).

T+1:05............CDR..... Reading four eighty six on mine.

(NASA: Routine airspeed indicator check.)

T+1:07............PLT..... Yep, that's what I've got, too.

T+1:10............CDR..... Roger, go at throttle up.

(NASA: SSME at 104 percent.)

T+1:13............PLT..... Uhoh (Noder's note: Some believe this is NASA being prudent, and the words are really, "Oh shit.").

T+1:13.......................LOSS OF ALL DATA.


Below is the highly controversial "continuation" of the final moments of the Challenger crew. It is highly improbably that this is real, as the operation recorder would have run out of power in 20 seconds after loss of power, being that there is no auxilary power/backup for the recorders. One story states that this transcript came from a discussion between a tabloid report and respected Miami Herald journalist Dennis E. Powell (Nominated by the Herald for his reporting on the Challenger disaster.) asking Dennis what might a crew tape sound like.

Still, this ghostly transcript floats around the Internet, it's validity will never be known, as out of respect for the 7 astronauts, NASA has refused to allow access to the audio tapes (This lead to a Supreme Court case in the New York Times v. National Space and Aeronautics Adminstration). If anything it serves as a haunting reminder of the human fixation with death and tragedy.

The sex of the speaker is indicated by M or F.

T+1:15 (M)....... What happened? What happened? Oh God, no - no!

T+1:17 (F)....... Oh dear God.

T+1:18 (M)....... Turn on your air pack! Turn on your air...

T+1:20 (M)....... Can't breathe... choking...

T+1:21 (M)....... Lift up your visor!

T+1:22 (M/F)....... (Screams.) It's hot. (Sobs.) I can't. Don't tell me...God! Do it...now...

T+1:24 (M)....... I told them...I told them...Dammit! Resnik don't...

T+1:27 (M)....... Take it easy! Move (unintelligible)...

T+1:28 (F)....... Don't let me die like this. Not now. Not here...

T+1:31 (M)....... Your arm... no... I (extended garble, static)

T+1:36 (F)....... I'm...passing...out...

T+1:37 (M).......We're not dead yet.

T+1:40 (M)....... If you ever wanted (unintelligible) me a miracle...(unintelligible)...(screams)

T+1:41 (M)....... She's...she's...(garble)...damn!

T+1:50 (M)....... Can't breathe...

T+1:51 (M/F).......(screams) Jesus Christ! No!

T+1:54 (M)....... She's out.

T+1:55 (M)....... Lucky... (unintelligible).

T+1:56 (M)....... God. The water...we're dead! (screams)

T+2:00 (F)....... Goodbye (sobs)...I love you, I love you...

T+2:03 (M)....... Loosen up...loosen up...

T+2:07 (M)....... It'll just be like a ditch landing...

T+2:09 (M)....... That's right, think positive.

T+2:11 (M)...... Ditch procedure...

T+2:14 (M)....... No way!

T+2:17 (M)....... Give me your hand...

T+2:19 (M)....... You awake in there? I... I...

T+2:29 (M)....... Our Father... (unintelligible)...

T+2:42 (M)....... hallowed be Thy name... (unintelligible).

T+2:58 (M)....... The Lord is my shepherd, I shall...not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures... though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil... I will dwell in the house...

T+3:15 to end.......None. Static, silence.