SPACEFLIGHT NOW

August 9, 2000 -- Follow the launches of two Russian Soyuz rockets with ESA's quartet of Cluster 2 space weather satellites. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

1247 GMT (8:47 a.m. EDT)

SPACECRAFT SEPARATION CONFIRMED! The second pair of Cluster 2 satellites -- Rumba and Tango -- have been delivered into a highly elliptical transfer orbit around Earth today following an apparently successful launch by a Starsem Soyuz-Fregat rocket.

European Space Agency controllers report establishing contact with both satellites, verifying they were alive and spinning at the current rate.

The craft were injected into a highly elliptical orbit today and will later boost themselves into their operational perch over the next few days, joining Salsa and Samba launched into space on July 16. Scientists want the satellites to fly in a tetrahedral -- or triangular pyramid-formation -- more than 75,200 miles (121,098 km) and a perigee of nearly 10,500 miles (16,869 km) above Earth.

Once commissioned, the four craft will dance in space to study the influence the solar wind has on Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere. During the next two years, as the solar wind buffets Earth's magnetosphere, the Cluster 2 fleet will penetrate its depths to see how the planet's shield responds and interacts with wind's electrically charged particles. Each satellite carries 11 science instruments and spins at one revolution every four seconds.

Solar storms impacting the magnetosphere can cause disruptions in communications and power on the planet and pose threats to satellites and astronauts.

The four Cluster 2 satellites are replacements for an earlier quartet destroyed in the launch failure of the inaugural Ariane 5 in June 1996.

1237:35 GMT (8:37:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 hour, 24 minutes. The Fregat upper stage is out of range from any ground tracking station and Russian officials are expecting to restablish contact with the rocket in about four minutes. At this point, the second burn of the stage should be complete, boosting the vehicle and attached Cluster 2 spacecraft from a low-altitude parking orbit around Earth to a highly elliptical transfer orbit. Spacecract separation to complete this launch is about six minutes away.

1141:05 GMT (7:41:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 27 minutes, 30 seconds. Alberto Gianolio, Cluster 2 deputy project manager, has confirmed the first firing of the Fregat upper stage has been completed successfully. The launch to place the second pair of Cluster 2 science satellite into orbit is continuing as planned. The rocket is now coasting around the Earth in preparation for another engine firing in just under an hour from now.

1125:05 GMT (7:25:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes, 30 seconds. ESA has completed the first half of its broadcast. ESA's next update will come in an hour at 1230 GMT when its broadcast resumes.

It is unknown whether the third stage completed its burn, the separation occurred or if the Fregat upper stage ignited to achieve a low-altitude parking orbit around Earth.

Should things be going correctly in the launch sequence, the Fregat will coast for nearly an hour before restarting. Spacecraft deployment is expected 90 minutes after launch.

1123:05 GMT (7:23:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes, 30 seconds. Awaiting confirmation on third stage and Fregat upper stage separation.

1121:35 GMT (7:21:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. ESA now says everything is going according to plan in the flight, now in the third stage of flight for the Soyuz rocket.

1118:35 GMT (7:18:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. Still no word from ESA officials on the progress of the launch as a PR video continues to run. At this point in the flight, the second stage should have shut down and separated, and the third stage should have ignited.

1116:35 GMT (7:16:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. ESA has broken away from live coverage to play a video. We have no further status of the launch.

1116:05 GMT (7:16:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The first stage has shut down and separation confirmed. The second stage is now firing. This is a near-three minute burn.

1114:35 GMT (7:14:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 minute. Now one minute into the flight. Officials have given no status thus far. Vehicle continues its steady climb to space.

1113:35 GMT (7:13:35 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Soyuz rocket to complete the European Space Agency's Cluster 2 space weather quartet to probe the interaction between the Sun and Earth.

1113 GMT (7:13 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds. The umbilical mast is dropping away.

1112 GMT (7:12 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute and counting. In the next few seconds the umbilical arm connecting the rocket with the launch pad will drop away. No problems have been announced and the countdown continues on schedule.

1108 GMT (7:08 a.m. EDT)

Today's Soyuz launch will be Starsem's 10th. From the consortium's press kit, here is a brief description of the launch process expected to begin in five minutes.

During its 8 min., 49 sec. of flight, the Soyuz launch vehicle will inject the upper composite, consisting of the Fregat upper stage and its Cluster 2 satellite payload, into a suborbital trajectory.

Once separated from Soyuz, the Fregat upper stage will place the upper composite into a circular parking orbit.

After its first burn, the Fregat upper stage will ensure that the upper composite remains in a three-axis stabilized mode during the coast phase, maintaining proper thermal conditions for the Cluster 2 satellites.

Once the upper composite reaches the appropriate initial orbit, Fregat will inject it into a highly elliptical orbit for satellite separation. The orbital parameters will be: minimum altitude 251 km; maximum altitude 18,053 km; Orbit inclination 64.8 degrees

After the Fregat's second burn, the upper stage will accurately align the upper composite in the desired separation attitude. Once this is accomplished, Fregat will spin up the upper composite and then release the Cluster 2 satellites one after the other. Release of the two spacecraft will occur 1 h 30 mn after liftoff.

1100 GMT (7:00 a.m. EDT)

Countdown clocks continue to tick away at Baikonur with no problems reported that would prevent an ontime liftoff today. Currently at pad 6, the cocoon-like service gantry enclosing the Soyuz rocket is being retracted.

1030 GMT (6:30 a.m. EDT)

Launch crews have completed fueling a Russian Soyuz rocket today as the countdown continues on scheduled toward liftoff about 73 minutes from now at the Baikonur Cosmodrome's pad 6 in remote Kazakhstan. The operation to load liquid oxygen and kerosene fuel began after the Russian State Commission issued its final approval for the launch to take place.

Meanwhile, the two Cluster 2 spacecraft mounted atop the rocket are in their launch mode on external power. No problems have been reported since they were powered up more than five hours ago.

Our next update will come at 1105 GMT when ESA begins its public affairs broadcast.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2000

A Russian-made, French-marketed Soyuz rocket is on the launch pad and ready for liftoff Wednesday to deliver the second half of a space weather satellite quartet. Liftoff from pad 6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 1113 GMT (7:13 a.m. EDT).

Coming on the heels of the successful July 16 of first two Cluster 2 spacecraft, nicknamed Salsa and Samba, Wednesday's mission will complete the orbiting fleet with the addition of Rumba and Tango. The craft were given their names in a contest amongst school children.

The European Space Agency's Cluster 2 program is aimed at studying the influence the Sun has on Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere. This area that surrounds our home planet serves as a shield against the million mile-per-hour solar wind, a stream of charged particles coming from the Sun.

"This international mission will help us better understand a mysterious region of our space environment that can affect spacecraft and electrical power grids on Earth," said Larry Christensen, Cluster project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

During the next two years, as the solar wind buffets Earth's magnetosphere, the Cluster 2 fleet will penetrate its depths to see how the planet's shield responds and interacts with wind particles.

By flying in a tetrahedral -- or triangular pyramid-formation, the Cluster quartet will study the physical processes that take place between about 11,800 miles (19,000 km) and nearly 74,000 miles (119,000 km) above Earth, providing scientists with the first thorough three-dimensional maps of this shadowy realm. The space quartet will orbit at an apogee of more than 75,200 miles (121,098 km) and a perigee of nearly 10,500 miles (16,869 km) above Earth.

The Soyuz rocket, fitted with a Fregat upper stage, was transported horizontally by train on Sunday. Once at the pad, the vehicle was erected and support towers enclosed the rocket.

We will provide live reports during the final countdown and 90-minute-long launch on this page.

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2000

The Cluster 2 spacecraft launched Sunday have begun the orbit raising maneuvers, the European Space Agency said today. The complex process will elongate the orbits the satellites.

The main engine of the Cluster FM 6 (Salsa) spacecraft ignited, followed just one second later by the main engine on FM 7 (Samba). Both engine burns took place when the spacecraft were near the perigee (lowest point) of their orbits, 244 km above the Earth.

Each 10 minute 33 second burn was intended to stretch the spacecraft orbits, raising their apogee (highest point) from 18,067 km to 24,442 km. Preliminary data received from the Kiruna ground station in Sweden confirmed that both burns had gone as planned.

This was the first of four apogee raising maneuvers scheduled for both satellites over the coming four days. The next burns are slated for tomorrow morning.

By July 20, the first Cluster pair should be dancing together along highly elliptical orbits of approximately 18,000 x 121,000 km, which means they will then be travelling almost one third of the distance to the Moon.

The fifth and final main engine burns will then alter the inclinations of their orbits from 64.9 degrees to 90.6 degrees, transferring them to orbits that pass over the Earth's poles.

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2000
1453 GMT (10:53 a.m. EDT)

The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) reports that the two Cluster satellites have separated from the Fregat upper stage and the first health checks show everything is fine. Read a complete report on today's launch.

1419 GMT (10:19 a.m. EDT)

A spokeswoman at the European Space Agency confirms the two Cluster 2 spacecraft have been released from the Fregat upper stage. However, we are still awaiting a declaration of launch success. Check back a little later for a full report.

1411 GMT (10:11 a.m. EDT)

The two Cluster 2 spacecraft should have separated from Fregat upper stage by now. However, everyone is standing by for additional information from European Space Agency officials.

1353 GMT (9:53 a.m. EDT)

Officials report from Baikonur that indications are the Soyuz and first burn of Fregat resulted in an accurate circular parking orbit. Standing by for restart of the Fregat upper stage to accelerate the Cluster 2 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit. The upcoming burn will occur high above Africa, starting just off the coast of Angola and concluding over Egypt.

1342 GMT (9:42 a.m. EDT)

We have added a QuickTime video clip of today's liftoff.

1254:34 GMT (8:54:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 minutes. The first of two firings of the Fregat upper stage is now over, ESA says. The stage and attached Cluster 2 spacecraft will now coast around Earth for the next hour before Fregat reignites. That second burn will boost the satellites from a low-Earth parking orbit to a highly elliptical orbit. Spacecraft separation to complete the launch is expected 90 minutes into flight.

We will pause our coverage until the second Fregat firing.

1253:34 GMT (8:53:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 14 minutes. Still awaiting word that Fregat has completed its first burn.

1250:34 GMT (8:50:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. The Soyuz rocket has finished its role in the launch and the third stage separated to fall away from the Fregat upper stage and attached Cluster 2 spacecraft. The Fregat then ignited to achieve a low-Earth orbit parking orbit. This burn will continue for another 90 seconds or so.

1249:04 GMT (8:49:04 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes, 30 seconds. Awaiting confirmation on third stage and Fregat separation.

1247:34 GMT (8:47:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. In the next minute, the third stage of Soyuz will shut down and separate from the Fregat upper stage.

1246:04 GMT (8:46:04 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. European Space Agency officials report all events in today's launch have been nominal. Third stage continues firing.

1244:34 GMT (8:44:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. The Soyuz rocket's second stage completed its burn and has dropped away. Third stage ignition confirmed.

1243:04 GMT (8:43:04 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The payload fairing, or nose cone, atop the Soyuz has been jettisoned now that it is no longer needed during today's ascent.

1242:04 GMT (8:42:04 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The second stage is now firing. This is a near-three minute burn.

1241:34 GMT (8:41:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes. The first stage has shut down and separation confirmed.

1240:34 GMT (8:40:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 minute. First stage continues to fire. No reports from officials on status.

1240 GMT (8:40 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Soyuz rocket is climbing away into the blue skies of Baikonur Cosmodrome.

1239:34 GMT (8:39:34 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Soyuz rocket launching the first pair of Cluster 2 space weather observatories to probe the interaction between the Sun and Earth.

1239:04 GMT (8:39:04 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds. The umbilical arm is retracting.

1238:34 GMT (8:38:34 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. In the next few seconds the umbilical arm connecting the rocket with the launch pad will drop away.

1237:34 GMT (8:37:34 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. All systems remain go for liftoff at exactly 1239:34 GMT.

1235 GMT (8:35 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The Cluster 2 spacecraft are verified ready for their flight into orbit.

1232 GMT (8:32 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes and counting. The two Cluster 2 satellites should be switched to internal power now. A final readiness "go" for launch from the satellite controllers will be issued in the next minute.

1229 GMT (8:29 a.m. EDT)

Now 10 minutes away from liftoff. Officials report all systems remain go for launch for the Starsem Soyuz rocket carrying the first pair of Cluster 2 spacecraft.

1224 GMT (8:24 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes and counting.

1208 GMT (8:08 a.m. EDT)

The cocoon-like service gantry enclosing the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad has been pulled back. The countdown is continuing toward liftoff at 1239:34 GMT (8:39:34 a.m. EDT) today.

1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

ESA officials report from Baikonur that fueling of the Soyuz rocket with liquid oxygen has been completed. Earlier the State Commission approved today's planned launch attempt scheduled for 1239:34 GMT / 1339:34 BST / 1439:34 CET / 0839:34 EDT.

1009 GMT (6:09 a.m. EDT)

A European Space Agency spokeswoman at Cluster II mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, reports preparations for today's launch attempt are proceeding smoothly. Fueling of the Soyuz rocket is underway and all systems report "green" for launch.

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2000
2300 GMT (7:00 p.m. EDT)

The European Space Agency has announced another attempt to launch the first pair of Cluster II satellites will be made on Sunday. Liftoff was aborted today when a problem was detected between the ground system and the Soyuz launch vehicle in the final minutes of the countdown.

A State Commission has "confirmed that both the Cluster II spacecraft and the Soyuz launcher, including the Fregat upper stage, are in nominal configuration," the space agency said in a statement.

Liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for 1239:34 GMT (8:39:34 a.m. EDT). The State Commission will meet again four hours prior to launch to give the final approval. Spaceflight Now will provide extensive coverage of the launch.

"We are still looking forward to a successful launch tomorrow which will lead to the exciting results that we are expecting from the Cluster mission", said Prof. Roger Bonnet, ESA's Director of Science.

ESA said the 24 hour launch delay will not have any impact on the orbits of the spacecraft orbits or the expected science. Launch of the second pair of Clusters remains scheduled for August 9.

1325 GMT (9:25 a.m. EDT)

European Space Agency officials report that initial troubleshooting indicates a problem between the Soyuz rocket and launch pad systems caused the countdown to be halted. If engineers are successful in fixing the glitch later today, the launch could be reset for Sunday at 1239:34 GMT (8:39:34 a.m. EDT).

However, if the launch is delayed beyond 24 hours the rocket will have to be removed from its Baikonur Cosmdrome pad "to be cleaned", officials said.

"Space is an unforgiving business. But it is better to find the problem on the ground than one centimeter above the ground," said Dave Dale, director of technical and operational support.

1257 GMT (8:57 a.m. EDT)

To summarize, an unidentified technical problem caused the automatic countdown sequencer computer to halt today's launch of a Starsem Soyuz rocket with around one minute left before liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Efforts are underway by the Russian launch team in the blockhouse to determine what caused the problem.

The first indication of problem came at T-minus 50 seconds when the umbilical arm connecting the Soyuz rocket to the launch pad failed to pull away. It is unclear exactly what second the countdown was stopped, however.

If the situation can be fixed in time, officials could reschedule the launch for tomorrow. However, no decision has been made.

Once the Soyuz does fly, it will haul the first two Cluster 2 spacecraft into orbit for the European Space Agency. Following the addition of another pair to be launched next month, the space quartet will orbit high above Earth to study the dynamic interaction between the Sun and Earth.

1245 GMT (8:45 a.m. EDT)

If the problem can be identified and corrected in time, launch could be rescheduled for tomorrow during the same window of 1240-1244 GMT (8:40 to 8:44 a.m. EDT).

1242 GMT (8:42 a.m. EDT)

The launch team is looking carefully at the situation to determine why the automatic launch sequence was halted in the final minute prior to liftoff. This undisclosed glitch has, in effect, scrubbed the mission for today because the short four-minute launch window will not give officials time to determine what the problem is and fix it.

1241 GMT (8:41 a.m. EDT)

It appears the launch sequencer has stopped the countdown after a problem was detected. The umbilical arm connecting to the rocket was not retracted and the the launch has been halted.

1240 GMT (8:40 a.m. EDT)

The umbilical mast did not drop away. Standing by for word on what has happened.

1239 GMT (8:39 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. In the next few seconds the umbilical mast connecting the rocket will drop away.

1237 GMT (8:37 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The Cluster spacecraft have been declared "go" for launch.

1235 GMT (8:35 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting.

1230 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT)

A smooth countdown is reported by ESA officials as liftoff of the Soyuz rocket is now 10 minutes away. The two Cluster 2 spacecraft are switching to internal power for launch. They will be verified "go" for liftoff in four minutes.

1200 GMT (8 a.m. EDT)

Fueling of the Soyuz rocket has been completed for launch and preparations remain on track for liftoff in about 40 minutes time, officials report from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

We will provide a live QuickTime streaming video broadcast of today's launch. Coverage will begin shortly.

0845 GMT (4:45 a.m. EDT)

The countdown is underway at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for today's scheduled launch of a Starsem Soyuz rocket carrying the first pair of Cluster 2 space weather satellites for the European Space Agency. Launch is expected at 1240:38 GMT (8:40:38 a.m. EDT), within the available four-minute window that runs from 1240 to 1244 GMT.

Final activities got underway today at about 0240 GMT when launch crews checked the readiness of the Fregat upper stage, which will boost the Cluster 2 satellites into the proper orbit during launch.

The two satellites were turned on around 0620 GMT and entered their launch mode about two hours later. Telemetry links have been established with the ground and the spacecraft status is "green" for launch.

Fueling of the rocket should be underway at this time, which will continue until T-minus 90 minutes.

The two Cluster 2 spacecraft to go up today, plus another pair to be launched in August, will fly in formation around Earth to study how storms on the Sun affect space weather. Such storms can disrupt communications and power system on Earth and damage satellites in space.