| T-00:00 |
Liftoff |
| The Delta 2 rocket's main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters are started moments before launch. The six ground-start strap-on solid rocket motors are ignited at T-0 to begin the mission. |
|
| T+01:16.4 |
Ground SRM Burnout |
| The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out. |
|
| T+01:19.0 |
Air-Lit SRM Ignition |
| The three remaining solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage are ignited. |
|
| T+01:20.5 |
Jettison Ground SRMs |
| The six spent ground-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned in sets of three at T+80.5 and 81.5 seconds to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+02:39.5 |
Jettison Air-Lit SRMs |
| Having burned out four seconds, the three spent air-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned toward the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+04:23.4 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
| After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later. |
|
| T+04:31.5 |
Stage Separation |
| The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+04:37.0 |
Second Stage Ignition |
| With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ118-K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to place the upper stage and Mars Exploration Rover into the proper orbit during the launch sequence. |
|
| T+04:42.0 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The 9.5-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the Mars Exploration Rover atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves. |
|
| T+08:48.4 |
Second Stage Cutoff 1 |
| The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached Mars Exploration Rover are now in a coast period before the second stage reignites. |
|
| T+67:56.8 |
Second Stage Restart |
| Delta's second stage engine reignites for a firing that will raise the orbit further. |
|
| T+70:08.8 |
Second Stage Cutoff 2 |
| The second stage shuts down. Over the next minute, tiny thrusters on the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the vehicle in preparation for stage separation. |
|
| T+71:01.3 |
Stage Separation |
| The liquid-fueled second stage is jettisoned from the rest of the Delta 2 rocket. |
|
| T+71:38.3 |
Third Stage Ignition |
| The Thiokol Star 48B solid-fueled third stage is then ignited to propel the Mars Exploration Rover out of Earth orbit. |
|
| T+73:05.4 |
Third Stage Burnout |
| Having used up all its solid-propellant, the third stage burns out to completed the powered phase of the launch sequence for Mars Exploration Rover-B. |
|
| T+77:48.3 |
Yo-Yo Despin |
| Two small yo-yo-like structures are released from the third stage to reduce the spinning motion the Delta rocket and Mars rover are experiencing in preparation for satellite separation. |
|
| T+77:53.3 |
Spacecraft Separation |
| NASA's Mars Exploration Rover-B is released from the launch vehicle for the seven month, 305 million mile cruise to the Red Planet. |