1.
SV Astronauts out of van and into lift (2 shots)
0.26

2.
GV Rocket on launch pad
0.30

3.
GV White cloud (delaying launch) TILT DOWN to rocket
0.38

4.
GV Inside Houston control
0.43

5.
GV Rocket on launch pad countdown begins
0.50

6.
CU Rocket exhaust (countdown continuing) and liftoff (6 shots)
1.34

7.
SV Rocket in air (speaking continues)
2.38



Initials RJ/PN/OS/311 RJ/PN/OS/320



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Apollo 14, America's fourth moon shot, blasted off from Cape Kennedy today (Sunday) after a last minute delay due to weather which threatened to abort the mission. However, trouble lay ahead for astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell as their craft failed to dock with the lunar landing vehicle.

A thundercloud which moved over the launch pad stopped the countdown at eight minutes and two seconds. Under restrictions imposed after lightning struck an earlier Saturn rocket on launching, the countdown could be held at virtually the last minute for some hours and continued or aborted when the weather forced a decision.

After a delay of about 40 minutes the countdown was resumed and the huge Saturn Five rocket was on its way.