HOURS

MIN

SEC

Communication

0096

59

00

HELLO KENNEDY THIS IS SCOOP MISSION CRONTROL. AT THE END OF 96 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME WE HAVE STABLE ORBITS FROM ALL STATIONS. DO YOU CONFIRM.

0097

00

00

I think we do, Scoop. Our check is going through now. Hold this line open for a few minutes, fellows.

0097

03

31

Hello, Scoop MC. This is Kennedy. We have a stable orbit confirmation for you on the last passby. Sorry about the delay but there is an instrument snag somewhere here.

0097

03

34

KENNEDY PLEASE CLARIFY. IS YOUR SNAG ON THE GROUND OR ALOFT.

0097

03

39

I am sorry we have no tracer yet. We think it is on the ground.

0097

04

12

Hello, Scoop MC. This is Kennedy. We have a preliminary report of system malfunction aboard your spacecraft. Repeat we have a preliminary report of malfunction in the air. Awaiting confirmation.

0097

04

15

KENNEDY PLEASE CLARIFY SYSTEM INVOLVED.

0097

04

18

I'm sorry they haven't given me that. I assume they are waiting for final confirmation of the malfunction.

0097

04

21

DOES YOUR ORBITAL CHECK AS STABLE STILL HOLD.

0097

04

22

Vandenberg, we have confirmed your orbital check as stable. Repeat the orbit is stable.

0097

05

18

Ah, Vandenberg, I am afraid we also confirm readings consistent with system malfunction on board your spacecraft. These include the stationary rotor elements and spanner units going to mark twelve. I repeat mark twelve.

0097

05

30

HAVE YOU RUN CONSISTENCY CHECK ON YOUR COMPUTERS.

0097

05

35

Sorry fellows but our computers check out. We read it as a real malfunction.

0097

05

45

HELLO, HOUSTON. OPEN THE LINE TO SYDNEY, WILL YOU. WE WANT CONFIRMATION OF DATA.

0097

05

51

Scoop Mission Control, This is Sydney Staion. We confirm our last reading. There was nothing wrong with the spacecraft on its last passby here.

0097

06

12

OUR COMPUTER CHECK INDICATES NO SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION AND GOOD ORBITAL STABILITY ON SUMMATED DATA. WE QUESTION KENNEDY GROUND INSTRUMENT FAILURE.

0097

06

18

This is Kennedy, Scoop MC. We have run repeat checkouts at this end. Our reading of system malfunction remains. Have you got something from Bahama.

0097

06

23

NEGATIVE, KENNEDY. STANDING BY.

0097

06

36

HOUSTON, THIS IS SCOOP MC. CAN YOUR PROJECTION GROUP GIVE US ANYTHING.

0097

06

46

Scoop, at this time we cannot. Our computers have insufficient data. They still read stable orbit with all systems going.

0097

07

22

Scoop MC, this is Grand Bahama Station. We report passby of your craft Scoop Seven according to schedule. Preliminary radar fixes were normal with question of increased transit times. Please hold for systems telemetry.

0097

07

25

HOLDING, GRAND BAHAMA.

0097

07

29

Scoop MC, we are sorry to say we confirm Kennedy observations. Repeat, we confirm Kennedy observations of systems malfunction. Our data are on the trunk to Houston. Can they be routed to you as well.

0097

07

34

NO, WE WILL WAIT FOR HOUSTON'S PRINTOUT. THEY HAVE LARGER PREDICTIVE BANKING UNITS.

0097

07

36

Scoop MC, Houston has the Bahama Data. It is going through the Dispar Program. Give us ten seconds.

0097

07

47

Scoop MC, this is Houston. The Dispar Program confirms systems malfunction. Your vehicle is now in unstable orbit with increased transit time of zero point three seconds per unit of arc. We are analyzing orbital parameters at this time. Is there anything further you wish as interpreted data.

0097

07

59

NO, HOUSTON. SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING BEAUTIFULLY.

0097

08

10

Sorry, Scoop. Bad break.

0097

08

18

GET US THE DECAY RATIOS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. COMMAND WISHES TO MAKE A DECISION ON INSTRUMENTATION TAKE-DOWN WITHIN THE NEXT TWO ORBITS.

0097

08

32

Understand, Scoop. Our condolences here.

0097

11

35

Scoop, Houston Projection Group has confirmed orbital instability and decay ratios are now being passed by the data trunk to your station.

0097

11

44

HOW DO THEY LOOK, HOUSTON.

0097

11

44

Bad.

0097

11

59

NOT UNDERSTOOD. PLEASE REPEAT.

0097

12

07

Bad: B as in broken, A as in awful, D as in dropping.

0097

12

15

HOUSTON, DO YOU HAVE A CAUSATION. THAT SATELLITE HAS BEEN IN EXCELLENT ORBIT FOR NEARLY ONE HUNDRED HOURS. WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.

0097

12

29

Beats us. We wonder about collision. There is a good wobble component to the new orbit.

0097

12

44

HOUSTON, OUR COMPUTERS ARE WORKING THROUGH THE TRANSMITTED DATA. WE AGREE A COLLISION. HAVE YOU GUYS GOT SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

0097

13

01

Air Force Skywatch confirms our report that we have nothing around your baby, Scoop.

0097

13

50

HOUSTON, OUR COMPUTERS ARE READING THIS AS A RANDOM EVENT. PROBABILITIES GREATER THAN ZERO POINT SEVEN NINE.

0097

15

00

We can add nothing. Looks reasonable. Are you going to bring it down.

0097

15

15

WE ARE HOLDING ON THAT DECISION, HOUSTON. WE WILL NOTIFY AS SOON AS IT IS MADE.

0097

17

54

HOUSTON, OUR COMMAND GROUP HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER********************

0097

17

59

[reply from Houston deleted]

0097

18

43

[Scoop query to Houston deleted]

0097

19

03

[reply from Houston deleted]

0097

19

11

AGREE, HOUSTON. WE WILL MAKE OUR DECISION AS SOON AS WE HAVE FINAL CONFIRMATION OF ORBITAL SHUTDOWN FROM SYDNEY. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE.

0097

19

50

Perfectly, Scoop. We are standing by.

0097

24

32

HOUSTON, WE ARE REWORKING OUR DATA AND NO LONGER CONSIDER THAT ********** IS LIKELY.

0097

24

39

Roger, Scoop.

0097

29

13

HOUSTON, WE ARE STANDING BY FOR SYDNEY.

0097

34

54

Scoop Mission Control, this is Sydney Station. We have just followed the passby of your vehicle. Our initial readings confirm a prolonged transit time. It is quite striking at this time.

0097

35

12

THANK YOU, SYDNEY.

0097

35

22

Bit of nasty luck, Scoop. Sorry.

0097

39

02

THIS IS SCOOP MISSION CONTROL TO ALL STATIONS. OUR COMPUTERS HAVE JUST CALCULATED THE ORBITAL DECAY FOR THE VEHICLE AND WE FIND IT TO BE COMING DOWN AS A PLUS FOUR. STANDBY FOR THE FINAL DECISION AS TO WHEN WE WILL BRING IT DOWN.