Spaceflight Now: Delta launch report


BY JUSTIN RAY

July 16, 2000 -- Follow the countdown and launch of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket with the U.S. Air Force's GPS 2R-5 navigation satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

Snapshot
Mission patch
The mission patch designed by the U.S. Air Force.

Video vault
The Boeing Delta 2 rocket lifts off from pad 17A carrying the GPS 2R-5 satellite for the U.S. Air Force.
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A video camera mounted on the exterior of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket's second stage shows the view of ignition and liftoff from Cape Canaveral.
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The Boeing Delta 2 rocket's three air-lit solid rocket boosters are ignited and the six ground-start motors are jettisoned as seen from ground.
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Onboard camera shows the air-lit solid rocket boosters igniting and the six spent ground-started motors being jettisoned.
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Onboard camera shows the spent air-lit solid rocket boosters being jettisoned and the first stage main engine still firing.
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Onboard video camera shows the spent first stage separating, second stage engine start and fairing jettison.
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Flight profile
profileTrack the major launch events for the Delta 2 rocket carrying the GPS 2R-5 satellite on Spaceflight Now's interactive flight profile page (requires JavaScript).

Pre-launch briefing
Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Orbit trace - A map shows the launch track for the mission.

Delta 2 rocket - Overview of the Delta 2 7925-model rocket used to launch GPS satellites.

Global Positioning System - Description of the U.S. Air Force's space-based navigation network.

GPS constellation - Chart shows the current status of the orbiting GPS satellite fleet.

Explore the Net
Delta 2 - Official Web site of Boeing's Delta 2 expendable launch vehicle program.

GPS - Global Positioning System Joint Program Office at U.S. Air Force.

LMMS - Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space built GPS 2R-5.

1st Space Launch Squadron - Oversees Delta rocket launches and facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

History of Delta - A private Web site devoted to past Delta launches with valuable facts and figures.