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Countdown completes for secret US space mission
CAPE CANAVERAL Fla AP a practice countdown was completed for America's first classified man in space mission an Jan 23 deployment of an advanced spy satellite within listening range of the Soviet Union The rehearsal began 1240 p m CST Sunday and ended 703 a m with a simulated liftoff Five man crew rode in the shuttle Discovery for the final 242 hours of the test Discovery moved to the launch pad Saturday NASA spokesman Hugh Harris said the countdown demonstration test was completed successfully with only a few minor problems The Pentagon labeled much of the mission secret noting the launch will occur between 1215 and 315 p m CST on Jan 23 Reporters may observe from a Kennedy Space Center site but no countdown details or live conversations will be heard Written progress statements will be issued every eight hours The satellite is an advanced model of earlier satellites that intercept radio telephone and satellite communications and relay them to US intelligence receivers It is said to gather radio data from Soviet missile tests and will carry the SigInt payload in stationary orbit 22300 miles above the equator