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The Mission




Rocket: Atlas 5 (AV-020)
Payload: LRO/LCROSS
Date: June 18, 2009
Times: 5:12, 5:22 and 5:32 p.m. EDT
Site: Complex 41, Cape Canaveral, Florida

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Atlas/LRO and LCROSS launch timeline
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T-00:02.7 Engine Start
The Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch.
T+00:01.1 Liftoff
The two strap-on solid rocket boosters are lit as the Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-020, lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
T+04:02 Main Engine Cutoff
The RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.
T+04:08 Stage Separation
The Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.
T+04:18 Centaur Ignition 1
The Centaur RL10 engine ignites for the longer of the today's two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and spacecraft into a parking orbit.
T+04:26 Nose Cone Jettison
The payload fairing that protected the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.
T+14:01 Centaur Cutoff 1
The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned parking orbit. The vehicle enters a short coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.
T+38:28 Centaur Ignition 2
The Centaur re-ignites to accelerate the payloads out of the temporary parking orbit achieved earlier in the launch sequence.
T+43:23 Centaur Cutoff 2
At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have propelled the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft on their trajectory toward the Moon.
T+46:12 LRO Separation
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is released from the Centaur upper stage to begin its four-day cruise to the Moon.
T+46:16 LCROSS Sequence
The Centaur upper stage begins a safing sequence to deplete its remaining propellant and maneuvering fuel in preparation for the LCROSS mission. Official handover of the rocket stage to LCROSS is expected at T+plus 4 hours, 1 minute and 14 seconds.

Data source: United Launch Alliance.

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