I believe it. It wouldn't be hard to sneak seven people off the Space Shuttle an hour before launch. They likely closed the hatch, turned off any camera that was there, and then opened the hatch to let everybody out. Besides the shuttles were remote controlled during ascent and descent. All the crew has to do open the payload doors following ascent and achieve the mission's desired orbit. During the descent phase, all that is done is to close the payload doors, do the deorbit burn, and then land the shuttle which is done during the last 10-15 minutes of flight (Last 15 minutes of final orbit).
I believe it. It wouldn't be hard to sneak seven people off the Space Shuttle an hour before launch. They likely closed the hatch, turned off any camera that was there, and then opened the hatch to let everybody out. Besides the shuttles were remote controlled during ascent and descent. All the crew has to do open the payload doors following ascent and achieve the mission's desired orbit. During the descent phase, all that is done is to close the payload doors, do the deorbit burn, and then land the shuttle which is done during the last 10-15 minutes of flight (Last 15 minutes of final orbit).