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It was a test -- only a test. Rescue teams at NASA's Kennedy Space Center recently practiced their readiness by training for a launch pad emergency. The team responded to a simulated pre-launch disaster at Launch Pad 39-A. They staged a rescue of volunteers who pretended to be injured astronauts and pad workers. The realistic practice was scripted to include the arrival of the responders at the pad, the egress of the astronauts and close-out crew, and the transfer of the injured to area hospitals. The test unfolded amid the powerful water spray from the launch pad's fire-suppression system. Rescuers made their way to the 195 foot high orbiter access arm, where astronauts are loaded into the Space Shuttle on launch day. They removed the pad workers and fully-suited volunteer 'astronauts' and carried them to the tower's emergency baskets. In a real emergency, the baskets would be released to carry the injured to a bunker on the ground via slidewires. The simulation continued on the ground, using another set of baskets. The 'victims' were moved by special armored carriers to a triage area. In the final phase of the simulation, four of the 'injured' were actually flown to hospitals in three surrounding counties. Why stage such a realistic test? Astronaut Alan G. Poindexter explained. 'The exercise we're doing today is very important to Return to Flight. It's one of the many things we need to do to make sure we return to flight safely. We want all the personnel involved here at the Kennedy Space Center to be sharp on their skills and make sure their head is in the game, so to speak, when it comes down to launch day and we need to put astronauts in the vehicle.'