BY JUSTIN RAY

June 16, 2001 -- Follow the countdown and launch of the Proton rocket launching the ASTRA 2C communications satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

0910 GMT (5:10 a.m. EDT)

SPACECRAFT SEPARATION. Societe Europeenne des Satellites' ASTRA 2C telecommunications satellite has been placed into orbit successfully today by a Russian Proton rocket. Read our launch story for full details.

0201 GMT (10:01 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 12 minutes. With the Block DM upper stage now in a quiet coast period around Earth, we are going to pause our live updates.

Highlights of events yet to come will include a pair of firings by the Block DM. The first is scheduled for T+plus 73 minutes, 15 seconds to raise the altitude from the current low-altitude circular parking orbit to an egg-shaped loop reaching about 35,000 km high at one end. The rocket will coast up to that high point before the second burn at T+plus 6 hours, 33 minutes that will raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination from the equator.

Separation of ASTRA 2C to complete this launch is expected around T+plus 6 hours, 55 minutes with the satellite being deployed into orbit of 7,700 km on the low end and 36,000 km on the high end with an inclination of 16.0 degrees to the equator.

Check back for confirmation of spacecraft separation.

0159 GMT (9:59 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 10 minutes, 15 seconds. Now confirmation has been received that the spent third stage has been jettisoned. The Block DM upper stage and attached ASTRA 2C spacecraft are now flying on their own.

0159 GMT (9:59 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 10 minutes. The third stage RD-0210 engine shutdown has occurred.

0157 GMT (9:57 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 9 minutes, 15 seconds. Altitude 226 km, downrange 1,744 km.

0157 GMT (9:57 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. About one minute left in the third stage burn.

0156 GMT (9:56 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Proton remains on the proper trajectory. Third stage engine pressure measurements normal. Altitude 201 km, downrange distance 1,112 km.

0155 GMT (9:55 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The payload fairing enclosing the ASTRA 2C spacecraft atop the rocket has been jettisoned. Altitude 178 km, downrange distance 840 km.

0155 GMT (9:55 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 6 minutes. The second stage has shut down and separated. Third stage engine ignition confirmed.

0154 GMT (9:54 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 5 minutes. Second stage engines continue to fire. Coming up on shutdown in less than a minute.

0153 GMT (9:53 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Proton performance is as expected. Altitude 111 km, downrange distance 337 km.

0152 GMT (9:52 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Second stage engine pressures normal. Altitude 91 km, 214 km downrange.

0152 GMT (9:52 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 3 minutes. Smooth flight for the Proton so far. No problems reported. Altitude 75 km, downrange distance 140 km.

0151 GMT (9:51 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 2 minutes, 25 seconds. The four RD-0210 second stage engines have ignited with good thrust. And the spent first stage has separated.

0150 GMT (9:50 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 90 seconds. Pitch, yaw, roll parameters of vehicle are normal. Altitude 19 km, 12 km downrange.

0150 GMT (9:50 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 60 seconds. Altitude 9.2 km, 3.4 km downrange. All systems reported to be normal.

0149 GMT (9:49 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Proton rocket has performed its roll maneuver to achieve the proper launch heading. All six RD-253 first stage liquid-fueled engines are firing.

0149 GMT (9:49 p.m. EDT Fri.)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Proton rocket carrying a new broadcasting spacecraft for Europe's ASTRA direct-to-home satellite system.

0148 GMT (9:48 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 1 minute. Now 60 seconds away from launch of the Proton rocket and ASTRA 2C satellite.

The engine start command will be issued by the launch sequencer at T-minus 2.5 seconds. The six first stage engines will be ignited at T-minus 1.6 seconds and commanded to 40 percent thrust. The thrust level is then increased to 100 percent at T-0 seconds. The liftoff confirmation is expected at T+0.57 seconds.

This engine start sequence allows for verification that all six powerplants are running normally before committing the Proton to launch.

0147 GMT (9:47 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight is now being verified. The rocket's first three stages and ASTRA 2C spacecraft are "go" for launch. No problems have been reported during the final countdown to liftoff.

0145 GMT (9:45 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The enable key of the launch sequencer is being turned to the "on" position as the countdown continues to liftoff at 0149 GMT.

0144 GMT (9:44 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket's first three stages -- which comprise the "core vehicle" -- are being checked for final confirmation they are ready for launch.

0139 GMT (9:39 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting. Now inside the final 10 minutes to liftoff of the International Launch Services Proton rocket. This will be ILS' 21st Proton mission dating back to 1996. All but one of the previous launches have been successful. It also marks the second commercial Proton of 2001, and the third overall when you count a Russian government mission in April. This will be the 287th Russian Proton rocket extending back to 1965.

0129 GMT (9:29 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket weighs about 1.5 million pounds as it sits on the launch pad. The ASTRA 2C spacecraft accounts for about 8,031 pounds of the weight. At launch the Proton's six first stage engines will fire together to propel the massive rocket into the dawn skies at Baikonur.

0122 GMT (9:22 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 27 minutes and counting. The countdown is currently under computer sequencer control, which will continue through liftoff. Also recently performed were the final updates to the rocket's guidance computer.

0114 GMT (9:14 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 35 minutes. The weather is acceptable for liftoff at Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is located on the remote steppes of Central Asia. Current conditions include clear skies, a temperature of 20 degrees C and westerly winds of 7 meters per second.

0109 GMT (9:09 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting. Officials report all systems are "go" for an on-time launch at 0149:00 GMT. That equates to 7:49 a.m. Baikonur time and 9:49 p.m. U.S. EDT.

0104 GMT (9:04 p.m. EDT Fri.)

T-minus 45 minutes. Good evening and welcome to our live launch coverage. A Russian Proton rocket is less than one hour away from blastoff to deliver the ASTRA 2C direct-to-home TV satellite into space to serve Europe. The three-stage Proton core vehicle and Block DM upper stage are fueled, and the pad's mobile service tower has been rolled away from the rocket.

Liftoff is still slated to occur at 0149 GMT from Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazkhstan.

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2001

The final hours of the countdown are underway at Baikonur for the launch of a Proton-K rocket carrying ASTRA 2C. Liftoff remains scheduled for 0149 GMT (9:49 p.m. EDT) tonight. We'll begin our live updates starting about 45 minutes prior to launch time.

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001

A new spacecraft for Europe's ASTRA direct-to-home TV and radio satellite system is ready to rocket into orbit aboard a commercial Russian Proton booster. Launch is planned for 0149 GMT Saturday (9:49 p.m. EDT Friday).

The Khrunichev Proton-K rocket, topped by an RSC Energia Block DM upper stage, will haul the ASTRA 2C satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit at the conclusion of a marathon six-hour, 55-minute flight.

The flight is governed under the auspices of International Launch Services, the joint U.S/Russian venture formed in 1995 to globally market American Atlas and Russian Proton rockets.

Following liftoff from pad 23 at Baikonur Cosmodrome's Complex 81, the three stages that make up the Proton's core vehicle will each fire to propel the upper stage and attached satellite payload into a 228 km (141 mile) circular parking orbit, inclined at 51.6 degrees to the equator. Separation of the third stage and upper stage occurs just shy of 10 minutes after launch.

The Block DM and ASTRA 2C will then coast for about an hour before the stage's main engine ignites to raise one side of the orbit slightly above geostationary altitude of 36,000 km (22,300 miles). The burn will last about six minutes.

An extended coast follows for more than five hours until the vehicle reaches the high end of its transfer orbit. At that point, the Block DM reignites for a two-minute firing to raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination. Spacecraft deployment occurs 20 minutes later.

ASTRA 2C will later use its onboard kick engine in a series of orbital maneuvers to achieve a circular geostationary orbit with a parking slot above the equator at 28.2 degrees East.

The craft will become the 12th member of the orbiting ASTRA constellation operated by Luxembourg-based Societe Europeenne des Satellites, or SES.

SES' ASTRA satellite system beams more than 1,000 analogue and digital television and radio channels to more than 87 million households in 29 European countries. The satellites are parked at 19.2 degrees East and 28.2 degrees East orbital locations.

Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, ASTRA 2C is a BSS 601-HP model satellite with 40 Ku-band transponders, each with 98.5-w minimum traveling wave tube amplifiers. When the satellite goes into service, 32 transponders will be operational, with 28 used at the end of the 15-year design life.

Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage on this page during the final countdown and climb to orbit of the Proton.