YOUR FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

According to this A.P. piece, space shuttle astronauts yesterday conducted a practice countdown. Not only did they don their familiar orange space suits and "strap[] into the Space Shuttle," but more importantly, it also served as "a dry run for the flight controllers in the so-called firing room who will direct the liftoff."

"We had a good test, a firing room full of console operators, getting familiar with their activities and launch-day events," said NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham. "With the crew at the pad, it was a very successful test."

"The countdown is very important," austronaut Bruce Sullivan added. "Billions of dollars spent on every conceivable facet of the operation. But all it takes is one missed number on the countdown, and . . . well, no liftoff."