NASA Audio Highlight Reels transcripts
Making historic space moments readily accessible by Luna NovaI was trying to identify the samples in Thrasher - Orbit and was surprised to find that there's no full text searchable collection of NASA's publicly released sound bites, so I've put this page together in the hopes that it makes life easier for future searchers.
Samples used in Orbit:
- 0:22 — "We're going to dust it off first" — from STS-1 Highlights, CAPCOM Joe Allen to John Young after landing
- 0:25 — SSME go for main engine start
- 1:04 — "Heck of a big leap for me"
- 1:39 — MECO — Welcome to space
- 2:10 — "The Eagle has landed"
- 2:52 — Go/no-go countdown
- 4:13 — Apollo 13 splashdown applause
Audio files are from the NASA Audio Highlight Reels collection on the Internet Archive. As works of the US federal government, they are in the public domain and not subject to this site's usual creative commons license.
Transcripts are machine-generated with whisper.cpp and Gemini and may contain errors. I have not yet verified these personally for accuracy. I intend to verify all short clips directly, but will have to accept some level of transcription error in the multi hour highlight files as a tradeoff for having them searchable at all.
Apollo 11§
"The Eagle has landed" (short)§
Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.
"The Eagle has landed" (with ground response)§
Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.
Roger, Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again, thanks a lot.
Apollo 11 liftoff commentary (short)§
Liftoff, we have a liftoff, 32 minutes past the hour, liftoff on Apollo 11.
Apollo 11 liftoff (full countdown and ascent)§
Ten, nine, ignition sequence start. Six, five, four, three, two, one, zero. All engine running. Liftoff. We have a liftoff. Thirty-two minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11.
Roger, we've got a roll program. Tower cleared. Roger, roll.
Houston, Apollo 11 at that end gave us a magnificent ride.
"One small step for man"§
That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
"We came in peace for all mankind"§
Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon, July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.
Apollo 13§
"Houston, we've had a problem" (short)§
We've had a problem here.
Initial problem call§
Jack, we've got one more item for you when you get a chance. We'd like you to stir up your cryo tanks. In addition, I have a shaft and trunnion for a look at the Comet Bennett if you need it.
Stand by.
Hey, we've had a problem here.
Houston, say again, please.
Houston, we've had a problem. Main B bus undervolt.
Roger. Main B undervolt. Stand by, 13. We're looking at it.
Okay, right now, Houston, the voltage is looking good.
We had a pretty large bang associated with the caution and warning there. And as I recall, Main B was the one that had an amp spike on it once before.
Problem highlights§
Hey, Houston, we've had a problem here. Say again, please. Houston, we've had a problem. Main B, bus undervolt. Roger, main B, undervolt. Stand by, 13. We're looking at it.
We had a pretty large bang associated with the caution and warning there.
Okay, Houston, are you still reading 13? That's affirmative. We're reading you. We're trying to come up with some good ideas here for you. And, Jack, our O2 quantity number two tank is reading zero. Let's look at that.
Now, listen to me. You're looking out the hatch. We are venting something. We are venting something out into the space. Roger, we copy your venting.
Here in mission control, we're looking, now looking towards an alternate mission. Swinging around the moon and using the lunar module power systems because of the situation that has developed here this evening.
It's not a very long procedure, Fred. We figure we've got about 15 minutes worth of power left in the command module, so we want you to start getting over in the LM and getting some power on that.
Okay, as we have an apparent serious oxygen leak in the cryogenic oxygen in the service module. The lunar module would serve as a sort of lifeboat for the crew of Apollo 13.
With the pericynthion near the moon, they would use the descent propulsion system of the lunar module for trans-earth injection burn at about 79 hours, 30 minutes ground elapsed time.
Roger, Aquarius, and you're go for the burn. Okay, Fred. Okay, Aquarius, you're looking good.
More problem highlights (SM separation and splashdown)§
Service module separation at 138 hours, two minutes, eight seconds.
And there's one whole side of that spacecraft missing. Right by the high-gain antenna, the whole panel is blown out, almost from the base to the engine.
Yeah, it looks like it got to the SPS bell, too. It's really a mess.
Okay, you're going to start powering up the command module. LM jettison. Farewell, Aquarius. Thank you.
Odyssey, Houston, we show you on the mains. It really looks great.
An extremely loud applause as Apollo 13 on main chutes comes through loud and clear on the television display here. Another cheer in the control room as we have splashdown.
Gemini 4 — Ed White's EVA§
First EVA§
Okay, I'm out.
Okay, he's out, he's close to me.
Okay, I'm coming over. Okay, stand by. You see me yet?
Oh, there you are. You're right in front, Ed, you look beautiful.
I feel like a million dollars. This is the greatest experience, it's just tremendous.
"Get back in"§
Well, you smeared up my windshield, you dirty dog!
Gus, I don't even know exactly where we are, but it looks like we're about over Texas again. Matter of fact, it looks like Houston down below us.
Hey Gus, I don't know if you read, but we're right over Houston.
See what the flight director's got to say. The flight director says get back in.
Gus, this is Jim. Got any message for us? Get back in. Okay.
They want you to come back in now. Roger. We've been trying to talk to you for a while here.
Listen, you can almost not come back in, but I'm coming. We still got three and a half more days to go, buddy.
JFK§
"We choose to go to the Moon"§
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
Mercury§
"Godspeed, John Glenn"§
Godspeed, John Glenn.
"Zero-G and I feel fine"§
Roger, zero-G and I feel fine. Capsule is turning around.
Random Mercury launch clips§
Transcript (long — Atlas/Centaur countdown procedures)
Minus 5 minutes, mark. Gas generator purge on. Purge on. Purge vent, squib to arm. Prepare water system. Roger.
TC, this is Atlas Propellants. We're very close to a redline at the breakaway valve, and we will redline before launch. I'd like to suggest that we drop a little and come back up. Proceed.
Water system ready. You bring her back up, Atlas Knox. Roger, TC, we're in process of coming back. Minus 4 minutes, mark.
Atlas telemetry to internal. Centaur to internal. Guidance to flight mode. Flight mode.
TC, that doesn't look like she's going to make it. TC, I don't believe so. Alright, we'll wait for you.
Minus 3 minutes, mark. Atlas inverter on. Range safety commands to internal. Centaur propulsion to launch.
All stations recycle at T-minus five minutes. Sequencer recycle at five minutes, please.
How are you doing, Atlas Knox? We're coming up on the topping low probe, TC. Another minute or two.
TC, we're at flight level. Hold her there. Minus four minutes mark. Atlas telemetry to internal.
Minus two minutes. Atlas to internal power. Commands to armed. Atlas armed. Centaur armed.
Status check. Atlas autopilot, go. Centaur autopilot, go.
Apollo 11 — One Small Step (extended)§
Okay, Neil, we can see you coming down the ladder now.
I'm at the foot of the ladder. The LM footpads are only depressed in the surface about one or two inches, although the surface appears to be very, very fine-grained as you get close to it. It's almost like a powder down there. It's very fine.
I'm going to step off the LM now.
That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
The surface is fine and powdery. I can pick it up loosely with my toe. It does adhere in fine layers, like powdered charcoal, to the sole and sides of my boot.
Go/No-Go§
Minus 60 seconds. SYM go, SYC go, CBH go, CAC go, CRE go, CGS go, TMS go, Range go, FSO, Flight Safety go, OD go, CRF go.
Minus 40 seconds. CRF, verify system monitor, receiver test lamps are not lighted. Verified. CBH, firing line ready, switch on it, verify lamps are lighted. Firing line ready now, lamps lighted. Lift timer start, switch guard lifted. Minus 25 seconds.
20, 19, 18, 17, mark, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.
Space Shuttle Launch Comm§
The original filenames for these clips contain "212" — it's unclear whether this refers to a specific mission or a comms channel. Several clips reference Endeavour but may span multiple flights.
15 minutes in hold§
Attention all stations. We're currently with about 15 minutes remaining at the T-minus 9 hold. The weather looks good. All systems are performing nominally. We're not working any technical issues. And our countdown clock will resume at 18:31:42 GMT.
10 seconds — SSME go§
10 seconds. TLS is go for main engine start.
30 minutes in hold§
Attention all stations, this is the NTD on 212. We're currently with about 30 minutes remaining in a T-9 minute hold, working no issues.
15-second hack§
15 seconds.
90-second hack§
One minute, 30 seconds.
60-second hack§
One minute.
Activate recorders§
CISL, JRPS, and Houston Flight, activate recorders in channel 145, please. ISL copies, JRPS copies, and Houston Flight copies, report and work.
Autosequence start§
OLS is go for auto sequence start.
Clock resume§
The countdown clock will resume on my mark. Three, two, one, mark.
T minus nine minutes and counting. TLS auto sequence has been initiated.
Close and lock visors§
Flight crew, OTC, close and lock your visors. Initiate O2 flow.
Endeavour — happy words§
Thank you, Mike. The seven of us feel privileged to deliver the AMS and S6 truss to the space station, give it the added dimension to build itself out into the future, as well as carry AMS on its maiden flight. More importantly, a big thanks to you and your entire team for delivering us a superb vehicle here in Endeavour.
Thank you very much, and on behalf of the team, have a great flight.
Go/no-go for launch§
Attention all stations, this is the NTD performing the launch status check. Verify ready to resume the count and go for launch.
OTC — go. Tank and boosters — go. PTC — go for launch. LPS — go. Houston Flight — go. MILA and PDL — go for launch. STM — go. Safety — go. SPE — go. LRD — go. SRO — go, range clear to launch. CDR — go.
MMT go/no-go§
Chief Engineer, Launch Director, verify no constraints to launch. Okay, Mike, engineering team is go. Okay, Charlie, thank you.
KSC Shuttle and Mission Assurance. KSC SMA is go.
International Space Station Launch Manager. Mike, on behalf of our Canadian and Italian partners and friends, International Space Station teams go for launch.
Range weather. Roger, sir, we have no constraints to launch.
Mission Manager. Mike, the mission management team, we're working no issues. You are go to continue the count. Okay, thank you, sir.
NTD to Houston Flight§
NTD, Houston Flight, 212.
NTD ready§
Launch director, NTD, launch director, your launch team is ready to proceed at this time. I copy, thank you.
NTD to Endeavour§
Endeavour, launch director. Okay, go ahead.
Okay, Mark, looks like a beautiful day to take the Canadarm2 and Raffaello to orbit. So good luck and have fun on the International Space Station.
LH2 pressurization§
GLS is go for ET LH2 pressurization.
LO2 pressurization§
GLS is go for ET LO2 pressurization.
Orbiter access arm retract§
GLS is go for orbiter access arm retract.
Perform APU prestart§
PLT, OTC, perform APU prestart.
Purge sequence 4§
GLS is go for purge sequence 4.
Strip chart recorders§
JRPS, OTC, start APU strip chart recorders. JRPS, strip charts are running.
Air-to-ground: Roll program§
Houston, Endeavour, roll program.
Roger roll, Endeavour.
Air-to-ground: Go at throttle up§
Endeavour Houston, go at throttle up.
Roger, Houston, go at throttle up.
Air-to-ground: Negative return§
Endeavour Houston, negative return.
Roger, negative return.
Air-to-ground: Two-engine TAL§
Endeavour Houston, two-engine Moron.
Copy, Houston, two-engine Moron.
Air-to-ground: Press to ATO§
Endeavour Houston, press to ATO, select Zaragoza.
Press to ATO, select Zaragoza.
Air-to-ground: Press to MECO§
Endeavour Houston, press to MECO.
Copy, press to MECO.
Air-to-ground: Single engine OPS 3§
Endeavour Houston, single engine OPS 3.
Endeavour copy, single engine OPS 3.
Air-to-ground: MECO — Welcome to space§
Endeavour Houston, we see a nominal MECO, OMS-1 not required. Welcome to space.
Air-to-ground: Thanks, plus-six complete§
Hey Houston, thank you for that. Plus-six complete.
UHF: APU prestart complete§
OTC, PLT, prestart complete, three gray talkbacks.
UHF: APU prestart§
PLT, APU prestart in work.
UHF: Essential buses connected to fuel cells§
OTC, PLT, essential buses connected to fuel cells.
UHF: CAPCOM weather update§
And Endeavour, after looking at the runway config with the STA, we think KSC 1-5 will be preferred if it's required. On spec 50, we'd like you to select KSC 1-5 as the primary. We're going to continue to remain with Moron as the prime TAL.
UHF: CDR is go§
CDR is go.
UHF: Caution and warning clear§
OTC, PLT, caution and warning memory is clear.
UHF: Caution and warning memory clear§
OTC, PLT, caution and warning memory is clear.
UHF: Go ahead§
Okay, go ahead.
UHF: Heater reconfig complete§
OTC, CDR, heater reconfig complete.
UHF: Houston, go ahead§
Houston, go ahead.
UHF: Hydraulic pressure§
PLT in work, and the only F7 light we have is hyd press, as expected.
UHF: MS1 in work§
OTC, MS1 in work.
UHF: No unexpected errors§
PLT, that's in work. We have no unexpected errors.
UHF: PLT in work§
PLT in work.
UHF: Spec 50 reconfigure§
OTC, CDR, we're going to pull up spec 50 and reconfigure it.
UHF: Spec 50 — runway 15§
Okay, we copy all and we'll configure spec 50 at this time for runway 15.
UHF: Thank you§
Thank you.
UHF: Visors and O2§
OTC, for the crew, we have visors closed and good O2 flow.
UHF: Weather update§
Endeavour, Houston with a weather update.
Other missions§
STS-41B — "Heck of a big leap" (Bruce McCandless, first untethered EVA)§
Well, it may have been one small step for Neil, but it's a heck of a big leap for me.
STS-51L ;-; — "Go at throttle up" (Challenger)§
Challenger, go at throttle up. Roger, go at throttle up.
Mission highlight reels§
These are longer audio compilations of roughly 0.5-2 hours each as separate txt files, with a sample line.
Apollo 7§
One minute ten seconds and counting, we still are go at this time. Coming up on one minute, mark, T minus sixty seconds and counting, we are go for Apollo 7 at this time...
Apollo 8§
T minus 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9... we have ignition sequence start. The engines are on. 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. We have commit. We have lift-off. Lift-off at 7:51 AM Eastern Standard Time.
Apollo 9§
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Chris Kraft, happy birthday to you.
Apollo 10§
Tom Stafford reports they are go, we're coming up on the 20 second mark. T-minus 20 seconds and counting. 17 seconds and counting, guidance internal. 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, we have ignition sequence start. Engines on, 5, 4, 3, 2, all engines running. Launch commit, liftoff!
Apollo 11§
10, 9, ignition sequence start, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. All engine running. Lift-off! We have a lift-off! 32 minutes past the hour. Lift-off on Apollo 11.
Apollo 12§
Okay, we just lost the platform, gang. I don't know what happened. I'm not sure we didn't get hit by lightning... Apollo 12 Houston, try SCE to auxiliary, over.
Apollo 13§
Houston, we've had a problem here... And, Jack, our O2 quantity number two tank is reading zero... We are venting something out into space.
Apollo 14§
Stu Roosa just said, thanks, it's been a good count. 25 seconds and counting, we are still go... Launch commit, liftoff, we have liftoff on Apollo 14, three minutes past the hour.
Apollo 15§
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. All engines running. Launch commit. Liftoff! We have liftoff at 9:34 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Apollo 16§
016, this is the LM. The launch team wishes you good luck and Godspeed.
Apollo 17§
10, 9, 8, 7, ignition sequence started. All engines are started. We have ignition, 2, 1, 0, we have a liftoff. We have a liftoff and it's lighting up the area. It's just like daylight here at Kennedy Space Center.
STS-1§
You go forward this morning in a daring enterprise and you take the hopes and prayers of all Americans with you... Once again, we feel the surge of pride that comes from knowing we are the first and we are the best and we are so because we are free.
...
We got to take it up to the hangar, Joe.
We're going to dust it off first.
Project Mercury§
Highlight number one, Shepard Flight, liftoff of Freedom 7. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Liftoff.
Project Gemini§
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Bolts and liftoff. Roger, clock is started.
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project§
The fueling tower has been removed. 30 seconds before launch.
Skylab I and II§
We have ignition, sequence has started. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. And we have a liftoff.
Skylab 3§
T minus 30 seconds. T minus 30 seconds and counting.
Skylab 4§
A successful attempt to photograph the barium cloud created by the launch of a Black Brant IV rocket from Fairbanks, Alaska.
STS-2§
Launch director George Page has checked on a number of problems which have come up during the countdown... He has spoken to Joe Engle and Dick Truly and said, we're going to give you a good one.
STS-3§
T minus 1 minute 30 seconds and counting.
STS-4§
T-minus 1 minute and counting. The firing system for the sound suppression water system on the pad is armed.
STS-5§
T-minus one minute and counting. The firing system for the sound suppression system on the pad is armed.
STS-6§
T-minus 1 minute and counting. The firing system for the sound suppression water system is armed.
STS-7§
T-minus one minute 30 seconds and counting. Everything going smoothly here at the Kennedy Space Center, and waiting for the beginning of the flight of STS-7.
STS-9§
Auto sequence has been initiated.
STS-26§
The flight crew emerging from the elevator... Commander Dick Covey, pilot, Mike Lounge, Dave Hilmers and Pinky Nelson.
STS-29§
We do have a 500-foot-thick layer of fog in the area here at Kennedy Space Center. Looks like it will probably take a couple of hours for that fog to lift for good visibility for launch today.
STS-30§
This is the second launch attempt for STS-30 and the Magellan spacecraft to Venus.
STS-31§
This is the 10th launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, the 35th of the Shuttle program, and on this flight, Discovery will become the veteran orbiter, equaling the record held by Challenger of 10 launches.
STS-32§
Crew is all set to begin their 10-day mission, which includes deploying the Syncom satellite on flight day two, retrieving the long duration exposure facility and also demonstrating the capability of the orbiter for an extended mission duration.
STS-34§
Liftoff of Atlantis's 5th mission into space is planned for the opening of today's launch window at 12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
STS-41B§
T minus 1 minute and counting. Sound suppression system now armed.
STS-41C§
And we have a go for APU start.
STS-41D§
T minus 1 minute 30 seconds and counting.
STS-41G§
We are counting T minus 9 minutes and counting under the ground launch sequencer. 9 minutes now from launch of 41G and its 7 person crew.
STS-51A§
T-minus 1 minute and counting.
STS-51B§
Crawling through the hatch now is pilot Fred Gregory. Don Lind is MS1 on this flight.
STS-51D§
Activities continuing on schedule for this morning's launch of mission 51D, the forward flight of Discovery and its seven-person crew.
STS-51F§
The launch of Mission 51F on schedule for a 4:30 p.m. blast off from Complex 39's pad A.
STS-51G§
Mission 51G marks the 5th launch of the Orbiter Discovery. It is the 18th mission of the Space Shuttle Program and is highlighted by its international crew and cargo.
STS-51I§
We've got a five mile warning. There is a warning of lightning within five miles. We are continuing to watch the weather as we count down towards the launch.
STS-51L ;-; (Challenger)§
The countdown for the launch of Mission 51L... This will be the 10th flight of the Orbiter Challenger.
STS-61A§
All continues to go well as we count down towards the scheduled noon liftoff of the Orbiter Challenger on the Spacelab D-1 mission, a dedicated science mission sponsored by the Federal German Aerospace Research Establishment.
STS-61B§
This will be the second night launch in the history of the space transportation system.
STS-61C§
Space Shuttle Columbia once again poised for launch on this fifth attempt for mission 61C. The ship pioneered the use of reusable winged spacecraft with the first launch of the Space Shuttle in April of 1981.
Cite as BibTeX
@online{nasa-audio-bites,
author = {Luna Nova},
title = {NASA Audio Highlight Reels transcripts},
date = {2026-04-15},
year = {2026},
url = {https://lunnova.dev/articles/nasa-audio-bites/},
}