BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the preparations and launch of the Russian Proton rocket carrying the DirecTV-5 television broadcasting satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

Video coverage for subscribers only:
   VIDEO: PROTON ROCKET LIFTS OFF WITH DIRECTV-5 QT or RV
   VIDEO: ANOTHER VIEW OF PROTON'S LIFTOFF QT or RV
   VIDEO: EXPLANATION OF REASON FOR MONDAY'S SCRUB QT or RV
   VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH PROCESSING OF DIRECTV-5 QT or RV
   VIDEO: PROTON ROCKET ROLLED TO LAUNCH PAD QT or RV
   VIDEO: ANIMATION DIRECTV-5 LAUNCHING ON PROTON QT or RV
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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2002

A direct-to-home television broadcasting satellite with a storied past finally rocketed into space Tuesday to become the newest star in the DirecTV constellation. Read our full launch story.

2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

SPACECRAFT SEPARATION. The DirecTV-5 satellite has been successfully placed into orbit today by a Russian Proton rocket. Deployment from the Block DM upper stage occurred a short time ago after the rocket motor performed its second firing.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, the DirecTV-5 spacecraft will be used to provide direct-to-home television programming for subscribers of the DirecTV system across the U.S.

We'll have a wrap up story a little bit later tonight.

1920 GMT (3:20 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 hours, 20 minutes. The flight of the Proton/Block DM rocket continues to go well, ILS says. The first firing of the upper stage was performed as planned. The rocket motor and attached DirecTV-5 satellite are now in a lengthy coast period through space. The second and final Block DM burn is expected at T+plus 6 hours and 10 minutes and will last for nearly two minutes. Spacecraft separation to complete today's mission is scheduled for T+plus 6 hours and 32 minutes, or 7:32 p.m. EDT (2332 GMT) tonight.

Check back for confirmation of spacecraft separation.

1714 GMT (1:14 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 14 minutes. The Block DM stage and DirecTV-5 are in coast period that will last nearly an hour.

Highlights of events yet to come will include two more firings by the Block DM. The first is scheduled for T+plus 73 minutes, 54 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, 10 minutes that will raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination from the equator.

Separation of DirecTV-5 to complete this launch is expected around T+plus 6 hours, 32 minutes with the satellite being deployed into orbit of 6,600 km on the low end and 35,786 km on the high end with an inclination of 17.6 degrees to the equator.

We'll pause our coverage at this point. Check back later for updates as we get them from ILS.

1710 GMT (1:10 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes, 30 seconds. The spent third stage has been jettisoned. The Block DM upper stage and attached DirecTV-5 spacecraft have arrived in a low-altitude parking orbit around Earth.

1710 GMT (1:10 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes, 10 seconds. Confirmation has now been received of the third stage RD-0210 engine shutdown.

1709 GMT (1:09 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. Pitch, yaw and roll programs are normal.

1708 GMT (1:08 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. About one minute left in the third stage burn. Altitude 222 km, downrange distance 1550 km.

1707 GMT (1:07 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 40 seconds. Good pressure readings from the third stage main engine. Altitude 206.8 km, 1185 km downrange.

1707 GMT (1:07 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Altitude 192 km, downrange distance 977 km.

1706 GMT (1:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. A good third stage engine is reported.

1706 GMT (1:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 10 seconds. The payload fairing enclosing the DirecTV-5 spacecraft atop the rocket has been jettisoned.

1706 GMT (1:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 5 seconds. The second stage has shut down and separated. Third stage engine ignition confirmed.

1705 GMT (1:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 144 km, downrange distance 576 km.

1705 GMT (1:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. Proton is 108 km up. Second stage still burning.

1704 GMT (1:04 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 27 seconds. Flight stablization is normal. Altitude 100 km.

1703 GMT (1:03 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. A successful flight for the Proton so far. Thrust chamber pressures in the second stage engines reported normal.

1702 GMT (1:02 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 60.4 km.

1702 GMT (1:02 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 28 seconds. Good thrust reported on the second stage engines.

1702 GMT (1:02 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The four RD-0210 second stage engines have ignited. And the spent first stage has separated.

1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. All systems continue to function normally, ILS says.

1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. Nearing the period of maximum dynamic pressure. First stage looks good.

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

T+plus 50 seconds. Altitude 6 km.

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

T+plus 30 seconds. The Proton rocket has performed its roll maneuver to achieve the proper launch heading for flight downrange. All six RD-253 first stage liquid-fueled engines are up and burning. Thrust chamber pressures reported normal.

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

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the commercial Proton rocket with the DirecTV-5 television broadcast spacecraft aboard.

1659 GMT (12:59 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Now 60 seconds away from launch of the Proton rocket and DirecTV-5 satellite. All systems are go. Ignition key has been activated.

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.

1658 GMT (12:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight is now being verified. The motor is also switching to internal power.

1657 GMT (12:57 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The Proton should be switching to internal power.

1656 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT)

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 1700 GMT.

1655 GMT (12:55 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. At this point in the count, the firing circuits for the Proton rocket are being energized.

1651 GMT (12:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket's first three stages -- which comprise the "core vehicle" -- have been checked for final confirmation they are ready for launch. No problems were reported.

Also, ILS reports the countdown has passed the point where the ground equipment problem was first noted during yesterday's attempt. There is no indication of a repeat problem, ILS says. That equipment, involved in checkout of the rocket's guiance system, was replaced during the 24-hour postponement.

1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)

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' 23rd Proton mission dating back to 1996. All but one of the previous launches have been successful. It also marks the 292nd Russian Proton rocket launch overall, extending back to 1965, and the second of 2002.

1645 GMT (12:45 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes. International Launch Services reports this countdown is continuing smoothly for liftoff at 1700 GMT.

1637 GMT (12:37 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 23 minutes and counting. All systems are reported "go" for this second attempt to launch the Russian Proton rocket and the Loral-built DirecTV-5 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite. Re-fueling has been completed and the pad's mobile service tower is once again in the launch position.

Liftoff from Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is still slated to occur at 1700 GMT.

1620 GMT (12:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting.

1225 GMT (8:25 a.m. EDT)

Delayed 24 hours due to a technical problem, another countdown is underway today to launch the Russian Proton rocket carrying the DirecTV-5 television broadcasting satellite. Liftoff is set for 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Yesterday's launch attempt was thwarted by an apparent electrical problem in ground support equipment during the final minutes of the count, officials said this morning. That caused the anomalous reading in telemetry from the rocket, which prompted the launch team to call a hold.

The glitch has been fixed for another shot at launch today.

Watch this page for updates during the final count and the Proton's flight to space.

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2002
1855 GMT (2:55 p.m. EDT)

Engineers aborted today's launch countdown due to a telemetry problem involving the Russian Proton rocket, officials have just announced.

Following the scrub, a spokesman for International Launch Services, the U.S./Russian firm that markets the Proton, said an issue with the DirecTV-5 satellite prompted the launch to be postponed. But that report was in error.

In any event, officials aren't sure how long it make take to fix the rocket's problem. Liftoff has been tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday at 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT). However, a further delay might be needed. ILS says a new launch date likely won't be known until early Tuesday.

We will update this page as soon as more information becomes available.

1706 GMT (1:06 p.m. EDT)

Today's launch attempt was aborted after the DirecTV-5 spacecraft team requested a hold due to some unspecified issue. So the Russian launch command team stopped the countdown. Engineers are now working to reschedule the launch for tomorrow at 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT), assuming the satellite's problem can be resolved by then.

So we will conclude our live updates at this point. Watch this page for live updates during the next countdown and the Proton's climb to orbit.

1702 GMT (1:02 p.m. EDT)

Officials in Baikonur say a back-up launch opportunity is available tomorrow at 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT).

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

We're still awaiting more details from International Launch Services about what caused today's countdown to be stopped and when another attempt will be made to get DirecTV-5 into orbit.

1658 GMT (12:58 p.m. EDT)

ABORT! The launch attempt has been aborted in the final minutes due to a problem. There is no word yet on what the problem is.

1657 GMT (12:57 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight is now being verified. The motor is switching to internal power.

1656 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT)

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 1700 GMT.

1655 GMT (12:55 p.m. EDT)

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. At this point in the count, the firing circuits for the rocket are being energized.

1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)

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' 23rd Proton mission dating back to 1996. All but one of the previous launches have been successful. It also marks the 292nd Russian Proton rocket launch overall, extending back to 1965, and the second of 2002.

1645 GMT (12:45 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes. The countdown continues smoothly for today's liftoff at 1700 GMT.

1640 GMT (12:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket weighs about 1.5 million pounds as it sits on the launch pad. The Loral-built DirecTV-5 spacecraft accounts for 8,025 pounds of the weight. At launch the Proton's six first stage engines will fire together to propel the massive, 188-foot tall rocket into the evening skies at Baikonur. It is currently 10:40 p.m. local time at the launch site.

1635 GMT (12:35 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. Officials report all systems remain ready for an on-time launch today. The countdown is currently under computer sequencer control, which will continue through liftoff. The final software updates to the rocket's guidance computer were recently performed.

1630 GMT (12:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. A Russian Proton rocket is nearing liftoff today to deliver the DirecTV-5 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite into space. The three-stage Proton core vehicle and Block DM upper stage are fully fueled, a process that began about six hours before launch time. And in the past 45 minutes, the launch pad's mobile service tower was rolled away from the rocket.

Liftoff from Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is still slated to occur at 1700 GMT.

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2002

A new television broadcasting satellite for the American DirecTV system is poised to launch today aboard a Russian-made Proton rocket from Kazakhstan.

The three-stage Khrunichev Proton K rocket with an RSC Energia-built Block DM upper stage will blast off from Baikonur Cosmodrome at exactly 1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT).

It'll be the second Proton mission of 2002, both of which have been conducted by International Launch Services -- the joint U.S./Russian firm organized to market Proton and American Atlas rockets.

The DirecTV-5 direct-to-home broadcasting satellite will be lofted into a geostationary transfer orbit by the Proton. The launcher's first stage will ignite at liftoff and fire for two minutes, then it will shut down, followed by second stage ignition and stage separation. Stage two will burn for three minutes, 30 seconds before shutting down as the third stage comes to life to burn for another four minutes to place the upper stage and payload into a preliminary parking orbit 116 by 138 miles high. The protective payload fairing encapsulating the DirecTV-5 spacecraft will to be jettisoned during the third stage burn.

After being placed into a parking orbit, the Proton's Block DM upper stage will be released to conduct two burns over the ensuing six hours to place the satellite into its transfer orbit with an apogee of 22,237 miles and a perigee of 4,101 miles. From there, DirecTV-5 will separate from the upper stage, heading off for orbit-raising maneuvers, deployment of its solar panels and antennas and an extensive testing period.

The craft's final orbital position will be in a circular geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator at 119 degrees West. This parking slot will put the spacecraft in transmitting range of the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

From that perch, DirecTV-5 will use its antennas and 32 Ku-band transponders to broadcast DirecTV programming directly to customer homes across the United States. This satellite will be the seventh launched for DirecTV's orbital constellation in providing 225 digital television channels to over 10 million subscribers. DirecTV-5 will also allow DirecTV to provide local programming to a number of new cities.

DirecTV-5 was built by Space Systems/Loral and is based on their 1300 Series spacecraft design. The 8,025-pound satellite will operate in space for an expected lifetime of about 12 years before being retired.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for complete coverage and live play-by-play updates of the countdown and launch on Monday.