BY JUSTIN RAY

August 23, 2000 -- Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 3 rocket on a demonstration mission to prove the vehicle's reliability. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission live from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000

The Delta 3 rocket showed the world what it's made of today by successfully blasting into space on a crucial demonstration launch after two consecutive failures. Riding an arc of blindingly bright golden flame, the Boeing-built rocket soared into a picturesque Florida summer sunrise at Cape Canaveral and darted across the Atlantic Ocean. Read our full story.

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

T+plus 36 minutes, 30 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Boeing Delta 3 rocket has scored a success in this morning's demonstration launch after two back-to-back failures in the vehicle's first two flights in 1998 and 1999. The instrumented satellite simulator payload was just released from the rocket's second stage to complete this launch.

Today's flight appeared flawless from the sunrise liftoff through spacecraft separation off the southeastern coast of Africa.

We have posted four QuickTime movies from the launch. Check out the clip that shows liftoff from pad 17B; the separation of the ground-lit solid rocket motors; the jettison of the three air-lit motors; and the onboard camera video from the second stage showing separation of the first stage and ignition of the RL-10 engine.

1140 GMT (7:40 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 35 minutes. Less than 90 seconds from deployment of the mockup payload.

1138 GMT (7:38 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 33 minutes. Nothing much to report at this point. The Delta 3 continues coasting through space with just over three minutes to spacecraft separation, which is expected at T+plus 36 minutes, 18 seconds.

1134 GMT (7:34 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 29 minutes. Maneuvers by the second stage to the proper attitude for spacecraft separation have started. This will take about six minutes to complete.

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

T+plus 25 minutes. The Delta 3 rocket's second stage has completed the second of its two planned burns today. This finishes the powered phase of the launch. The rocket will now perform maneuvers and a spinup in advance of releasing the simulated payload in about 11 minutes.

1128 GMT (7:28 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 23 minutes, 30 seconds. About a minute left in the second burn of the second stage, boosting the vehicle into a highly elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit.

1127 GMT (7:27 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 22 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ascension Island tracking station in the Central Atlantic is now relaying data from the Delta 3 rocket. However, this relay is low-data rate.

1127 GMT (7:27 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 22 minutes, 12 seconds. Engine reignition confirmed. The Delta 3 rocket's second stage is firing again, passing the point where the failure occurred during the ill-fated Delta 3 launch in May 1999.

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

T+plus 20 minutes. Less than two minutes away from restart of the second stage.

1122 GMT (7:22 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 17 minutes. Live data from the Delta 3 is currently being received from an instrumented ARIA aircraft flying above the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket has already used Cape Canaveral and Antigua Island ground tracking stations this morning during its trek to space.

1119 GMT (7:19 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 14 minutes. The rocket is now in a coast period between the two burns of the second stage. The stage is due to restart at T+plus 21 minutes, 26 seconds, which is when the problem occurred during the last Delta 3 launch.

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

T+plus 13 minutes, 50 seconds. The Delta 3 rocket's second stage has completed its first firing this morning as the demonstration launch continues to progress smoothly.

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

T+plus 11 minutes, 30 seconds. Boeing reports the second stage still burning normally. This firing will last another two minutes.

1115 GMT (7:15 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. We do not have any information to pass along currently. Boeing is showing some PR films, which have halted live updates from the launch team.

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

T+plus 7 minutes. The Delta 3 rocket's second stage continues its first of two firings during this morning's launch. No problems have been reported so far.

1111 GMT (7:11 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The official liftoff time was 1105:00.050 GMT (7:05:00.050 a.m. EDT).

1110 GMT (7:10 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. Second stage engine nozzle deployment complete and the RL-10B-2 is now firing.

1109 GMT (7:09 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine has cut off. The first and second stages has separated apart.

1109 GMT (7:09 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. The 4-meter payload fairing enclosing the simulated satellite cargo atop the Delta 3 rocket has been jettisoned. No sign of recontact from the nose cone.

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

T+plus 3 minutes. The three air-start solid rocket motors have separated. Vehicle continues to orbit on the power of the first stage main engine.

1107 GMT (7:07 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes. Altitude 22 miles, downrange distance 50 miles, velocity is 5,400 mph.

1106 GMT (7:06 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. All six ground-lit solid rocket boosters have burned out and jettisoned. The three air-lit solids have ignited.

1106 GMT (7:06 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. Delta 3 continues down the Range track. Altitude is 4.5 miles, downrange is 15 miles.

1105 GMT (7:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. Vehicle stable as it flies through the dense lower atmosphere.

1105 GMT (7:05 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Delta 3 rocket as Boeing demonstrates a new utility in launching commercial communications satellites. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.

1104 GMT (7:04 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 22 seconds. Auto sequence start. Terminal sequence software now controlling the countdown.

In the next few seconds the pad water system will be started to suppress the sound produced at launch, igniters will be armed and the solid rocket motor nozzle steering system will be activated.

Launch ignition will begin at T-minus 5 seconds when a Boeing engineer, making a simple click of a computer mouse, sends a command to enable the engine start sequence. Then the computer-controlled process begins with an engine start command at T-minus 2 seconds for ignition of the two vernier engines and first stage main engine. The six ground-start solid boosters then light at T-0 for liftoff.

1104 GMT (7:04 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. The Range has issued its final go for launch.

Following liftoff from pad 17B, the Delta 3 rocket will follow a 98.5 degree launch azimuth, heading east from Cape Canaveral and arcing above the Atlantic Ocean on its journey to orbit.

1103 GMT (7:03 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute, 30 seconds. Now 90 seconds away from launch of the Delta 3 rocket carrying an instrumented satellite mockup payload.

Currently, data recording charts are being taken to high speed. Topping of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to the first and second stage tanks continues to ensure a proper load for flight.

Approximately a half-second after liftoff, the three steerable solid rocket motor nozzles will be gimbaled downward to allow the exhaust to exit the special flame ducts at pad 17B. Then at T+3.5 seconds, the nozzles will be slewed outward to produce the maximum performance for flight. The liftoff thrust will top out at 1.1 million pounds at T+4 seconds. The 663,000-pound vehicle will also experience 1.3 g's at liftoff.

1103 GMT (7:03 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The first stage liquid oxygen tank is now being pressurized for flight. Puffs of vapor from the rocket will be seen in the remainder of the countdown as the tank pressure stabilizes.

1102 GMT (7:02 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. Shortly the safety ordnance aboard the Delta 3 rocket will be armed. This destruct system is in place to destroy the rocket should it wander off course or experience a problem in flight. Also the second stage Nozzle Engine Deployment System, or NEDS, will be readied for flight. The system is used to deploy the carbon-carbon nozzle extension on the RL10B-2 engine.

1101 GMT (7:01 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are running again for this morning's sunrise launch of the 280th flight of a Delta vehicle and the third for Delta 3.

With the final phase of launch count underway, systems aboard the rocket are switching to internal power for liftoff at 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT).

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

Standing by to pickup the countdown in one minute. Now five minutes from liftoff.

1058 GMT (6:58 a.m. EDT)

Boeing Mission Director Rich Murphy says the countdown will resume at 7:01 a.m. EDT from T-minus 4 minutes now that the temperature has come within temperature limits for a second stage pump housing.

1055 GMT (6:55 a.m. EDT)

NEW LAUNCH TIME. Boeing has slipped the liftoff time to 7:05 a.m. EDT. The extra five minutes will allow the housing temperature on the rocket's second stage liquid hydrogen housing structure to come within a more favorable temperature. This not necessarily a problem, just something officials decided they wanted to do.

1052 GMT (6:52 a.m. EDT)

Boeing reports the launch team is looking a technical issue with the Delta 3 rocket. Standing by for word if this will hold up the scheduled 7 a.m. EDT launch time.

1050 GMT (6:50 a.m. EDT)

Now 10 minutes away from liftoff.

1045 GMT (6:45 a.m. EDT)

The sun is beginning to rise at Cape Canaveral as the countdown continues pausing at T-minus 4 minutes. Liftoff remains set to occur at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) this morning. There are no problems to report.

1041 GMT (6:41 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the built-in hold for today's launch attempt. This is a planned 15-minute hold. Weather conditions are acceptable, no technical problems are being worked and launch remains scheduled for 7:00 a.m. EDT.

1040 GMT (6:40 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. The Complex 17 water tanks are being pressurized and the solid rocket motor safe and arm devices are being armed. One minute away from the T-minus 4 minute hold. The hold is scheduled to last 15 minutes.

1036 GMT (6:36 a.m. EDT)

The first stage fuel tank vent is being closed and the tank is being pressurized to 24 to 30 psig is being pressurized.

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

Checks are now underway of the Range Safety command destruct receivers that would be used to destroy the Delta rocket should a problem arise during the launch. A little earlier, the Range completed RF link checks with the rocket.

The Delta 3 rocket stands fully fueled at Cape Canaveral's pad 17B as the countdown moves on schedule towards the 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) launch today. The vehicle has been loaded with RP-1 fuel, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

1025 GMT (6:25 a.m. EDT)

Air Force Launch Weather Joel Tumbiolo just informed Boeing Mission Director Rich Murphy conditions should be acceptable for an on-time liftoff today at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).

Meanwhile, the Range reports there are 11 shrimp boats currently in the restricted waters off the coast of Cape Canaveral. However, the Air Force says the boats are moving and should not be a problem this morning.

1023 GMT (6:23 a.m. EDT)

The first and second stage engine steering checks are now complete.

1017 GMT (6:17 a.m. EDT)

The "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engine nozzles are currently underway.

1015 GMT (6:15 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are pressing ahead to the T-minus 4 minute mark where a 15-minute long hold is planned. Launch remains scheduled for 7:00 a.m. EDT. There are no technical problems being worked and the weather is favorable.

1010 GMT (6:10 a.m. EDT)

Pressurization of the first stage helium and nitrogen systems has occurred, and decay checks are complete and acceptable.

1005 GMT (6:05 a.m. EDT)

The first stage fuel tank has been topped off with its load of RP-1, a highly refined kerosene. The tank was filled with 9,766 gallons.

0959 GMT (5:59 a.m. EDT)

The launch team is now bringing the Delta 3 rocket's first stage fuel tank to flight level.

0954 GMT (5:54 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and counting. Topping of liquid oxygen supply aboard the Delta 3 rocket is continuing as the countdown ticks towards launch at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT). There is one built-in hold scheduled for 15 minutes at T-4 minutes.

0925 GMT (5:25 a.m. EDT)

The Delta 3 rocket's first stage fuel tank has been loaded with RP-1 kerosene this morning as activities remain on track for liftoff at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

And now the launch team has begun pumping super-cold liquid oxygen into the first and second stages. With this process underway, officials will be forced to limit today's available launch opportunity from the four-hour window down to 68 minutes, extending from 7 to 8:08 a.m. EDT (1100-1208 GMT). The reason is liquid oxygen cannot remain on the rocket too long before liftoff due to thermal constraints.

0825 GMT (4:25 a.m. EDT)

The countdown is continuing at Cape Canaveral for today's launch of the Boeing Delta 3 rocket. Officials report there are no technical problems being addressed by the launch team. Also the local weather and upper level wind conditions are currently acceptable for launch.

At pad 17B, the loading of RP-1 fuel, a high refined kerosene, into the rocket's first stage is slated to begin shortly.

0745 GMT (3:45 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 180 minutes and counting. Clocks have entered the Terminal Countdown for launch of Delta 280 carrying a simulated satellite payload today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. One additional built-in hold is scheduled into the count at T-minus 4 minutes for 15 minutes in duration.

With Terminal Count underway, the launch team is scheduled over the next hour to turn on the rocket's Redundant Flight Control Assembly guidance computer, or RIFCA, and pressurize the first stage helium and nitrogen systems and second stage helium sphere. Evacuation of the Complex 17 launch area of all workers is scheduled in about 20 minutes.

0229 GMT (10:29 p.m. EDT)

The mobile service tower, used for assembling the Delta 3 rocket on the pad and providing access and weather protection, has been rolled away from the Boeing-built vehicle at Cape Canaveral's pad 17B tonight as the company continues to target a 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) liftoff.

The 12-story rocket is sitting brightly illuminated by powerful flood lights in the muggy Florida night. The pad can be seen from miles around.

With the MST now retracted, technicians are scheduled in the next couple of hours to remove the rocket's safe and arm pin, connect the Automatic Destruct System ordnance lines and remove the pin for the Inadvertent Separation Destruct System. The ADS and ISDS systems would be used to automatically blow up the rocket during launch if a problem occurred.

The countdown will enter an hour-long built-in hold at T-minus 180 minutes at 2:45 a.m. EDT (0645 GMT) prior to the start of Terminal Count. The final countdown will begin at 3:45 a.m. EDT (0745 GMT) with the 80-member launch team controlling from the "soft blockhouse" at the Delta Operations Building a few miles southwest from pad 17B.

Fueling of the first stage with RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, is scheduled to commence at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT). Loading of liquid oxygen into the first and second stages should follow at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 GMT). Liquid hydrogen tanking for the second stage will complete the fueling process starting at 5:55 a.m. EDT (0955 GMT).

Stay with Spaceflight Now for continuing countdown status reports and tune into our live streaming video broadcast of the launch starting at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT).

0140 GMT (9:40 p.m. EDT)

A launch with worldwide attention is just hours away at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as Boeing nears the third flight of its troubled Delta 3 rocket. There is enormous pressure on Boeing to demonstrate the Delta 3 rocket works after back-to-back failures in its first two launches. Delta 3 was designed as the evolutionary step from the smaller Delta 2 vehicle to the next generation Delta 4 family of rockets. Success of the sunrise liftoff is of the utmost importance for the company to attract a share of the lucrative commercial satellite launch market for not only Delta 3 but Delta 4 as well, which uses the same upper stage.

"I really feel the world is watching us," said Jay Witzling, Boeing's vice president for Delta 2 and Delta 3 programs. "We're looking good, we're confident and we're basically ready to go."

At Cape Canaveral's pad 17B, crews are making final preparations to retract the mobile service tower from around the rocket in the next hour. Overall, work is on track for liftoff tomorrow at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).

There will be a four-hour period, extending to 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) in which the rocket could fly. However, once liquid oxygen begins flowing into the rocket, the launch must occur in the following 168 minutes or else the mission will be scrubbed for the day. The reason is the super-cold cryogenic cannot remain onboard the vehicle too long due to thermal constraints. Liquid oxygen tanking is currently slated to start at 5:15 a.m. EDT (0915 GMT), which would limit the launch window to just over an hour in duration.

Should the weather or a technical problem crop up overnight, the countdown can be held prior to loading liquid oxygen. That would allow the launch team to wait for better weather conditions or resolve the glitch and target liftoff later in the four-hour period.

Generally speaking the weather forecast for launch time is favorable. But thick clouds and passing rainshowers will be concerns. Officials are hopeful a hole would be found at some point in the launch opportunity.

Boeing expected to have a backup launch date on Thursday, if needed. Beyond that however, the Cape could be under a hurricane alert for the approaching storm Debby. In such an event, the Delta 3 rocket and launch pad will have to be secured, preventing further attempts past Thursday morning.

The downrange tracking station on Antigua Island was secured on Monday when then-Tropical Storm Debby churned by.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2000
1800 GMT (2:00 p.m. EDT)

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force are expecting the Antigua downrange tracking station to be reopened and ready to support tomorrow morning's launch of the Delta 3 rocket. A final "go" from the Range could come by mid-afternoon Eastern Time today. Teams on the Caribbean island are currently backing out of hurricane preparedness steps now that Debby has moved away.

There have been no reports of significant damage at the Antigua station, which is key in tracking the Delta 3 rocket as it streaks to orbit.

Meanwhile, at Cape Canaveral's pad 17B activities are progressing. Today is generally a quiet day, allowing the launch team time off to "synch up" to their work shifts tonight, Rich Murphy, Boeing's director of launch operations, told reporters this morning.

Efforts to rollback the mobile service tower enclosing the rocket at the pad should begin around 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT). Retraction is scheduled for 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT).

Liftoff remains scheduled for 7 a.m. EDT, the opening of a four-hour launch window (1100-1500 GMT).

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

Tropical Storm Debby skirted north of the Caribbean island of Antigua overnight where a U.S. Air Force tracking station is located. The storm became a hurricane at 2 a.m. EDT. Preliminary indications are the station suffered no damage or injury, however, further assessments continue, an Air Force spokesman said.

Plans call for the Antigua station to be reactivated today in order to support Wednesday's planned launch of Boeing's Delta 3 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Antigua is used to track the rocket's flight and relay data from the vehicle back to the Cape. The site is also one that can uplink command-destruct signals to the rocket if a problem is detected during the launch.

More will be known at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) when Boeing holds its pre-launch news conference. Spaceflight Now will Webcast the event and you can tune in live. See our broadcast page for details.

MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2000
1910 GMT (3:10 p.m. EDT)

Work is continuing to ready Boeing's Delta 3 rocket for liftoff on Wednesday despite Tropical Storm Debby's steady trek toward an important downrange tracking station.

The U.S. Air Force has closed the station on Antigua Island in the Leeward Island chain so workers could button up equipment there in advance of the storm's predict impact late tonight or early tomorrow. The island is under a hurricane warning and the Air Force has its station on HURCON 1 alert status, the highest level of hurricane preparedness.

Antigua is a mandatory downrange site needed for the Delta 3 rocket's launch. It provides radar tracking of the rocket, telemetry and data relay from the Delta 3 back to the Cape and an uplink site to issue command-destruct signals to destroy the vehicle if a problem occurs.

Should Debby's predicted course hold true over the next day, the station could be reopened later Tuesday after the storm passes. And if there isn't serious damage to the station's tracking antennas and facilities, Antigua would be ready to support Wednesday's scheduled 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) liftoff of the Delta 3 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

"All indications are (Debby) is tracking to Antigua," said Air Force spokesman Ken Warren from the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral. "But the hope is it will pass in sufficient enough time to be back up for the launch Wednesday."

1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT)

The U.S. Air Force has declared Hurricane Condition 1, or HURCON 1, for its Antigua Island tracking station located over a thousand miles southeast from Cape Canaveral. HURCON 1 is the highest level of hurricane alert and indicates 50-knot winds are expected within the next 12 hours.

"We fully expect that Antigua is in line to get Debby coming through," Air Force spokesman Ken Warren said.

Under this alert, workers at the site should have facilities locked down and assets safed as best as possible. In that condition, the site could not support a launch and would have to back out of hurricane preps before tracking the upcoming Delta 3 launch. Antigua is a required tracking station for the Delta 3's flight to orbit.

Air Force officials are holding their Launch Readiness Review at this hour and more should be known about Debby and her impact to Delta 3 later this afternoon.

Antigua is one of the northeastern most islands in the Leeward Island chain and is about 1,250 nautical miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The island is 16 miles across at its widest point and has a population of approximately 65,000 people.

1615 GMT (12:15 p.m. EDT)

Boeing has begun final pre-flight preparations for Wednesday's crucial test launch of its new Delta 3 rocket from Cape Canaveral, but Tropical Storm Debby is threatening to delay the mission.

The storm is churning ever closer to the Caribbean and may very well force the U.S. Air Force to close a tracking station on the island of Antigua. The island's government has posted a hurricane warning for Antigua, meaning winds of 75 mph or greater are imminent or expected in 24 hours. The site is required to be operating during the launch to relay data and signals between the Cape and Delta 3 rocket.

"We are still progressing to Wednesday. However, we are being updated by the Air Force for the approach of Debby to Antigua," Boeing spokesman Keith Takahashi said this morning.

The storm, which is expected to become a hurricane later today, is currently packing winds of 70 mph and cruising westward at 22 mph.

"All precautions to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area," the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. EDT advisory said.

Officials held their traditional Launch Readiness Review today, clearing the way for work to continue at pad 17B for Wednesday's liftoff. Other than Debby, there are no additional concerns or significant technical issues being discussed.

The available launch window for this mission extends each day from 7 to 11 a.m. EDT (1100-1500 GMT), which is four minutes after sunrise on Wednesday. Since the rocket is simply carrying a dummy payload, the launch time is not dictated by the cargo being boosted into Earth orbit like a communications satellite.

Read our earlier story detailing why Boeing is conducting this demonstration launch the Delta 3 rocket, which had failed on its two previous flights.

The weather forecast for Cape Canaveral on Wednesday is generally favorable with a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The concerns will be thunderstorm clouds and precipitation moving too close to the pad and flight path. Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo issued this forecast today:

"Local weather will be dominated by easterly flow over the next several days as high pressure ridge moves well north of the area. In this type of regime a chance of morning showers and possibly a thunderstorm could result. This activity could be enhanced by the remnants of what was once Tropical Storm Chris. By afternoon any thunderstorms that develop will be well to the west of the Cape as the sea breeze pushes well inland. The weather by Friday could become quite complex depending on the eventual track of Tropical Storm (soon to be Hurricane) Debby. Main concern during the launch window will be for any showers or thunderstorms that move in from the ocean, and possibly any thunderstorms that develop along the sea breeze late in the window."

Wednesday's launch time forecast calls for clouds scattered at 3,000, 8,000 and 25,000 feet, all with 3/8ths sky coverage each, visibility of 10 miles or better, northeasterly winds 10 gusting to 15 knots, a temperature of 78 to 84 degrees F, relative humidity of 85 percent and showers in the vicinity.

Should the launch slip Thursday, there is an 80 percent of good weather with the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation being the areas to watch. If liftoff is delayed to Friday, the local weather picture is very unclear given the uncertainty of Debby's track.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for continuing coverage of the Delta 3 rocket's demonstration flight, including a live streaming video broadcast of the launch.