BY JUSTIN RAY

October 2, 2000 -- Follow the countdown and launch of the Proton rocket launching the GE-1A communications satellite for Americom Asia-Pacific. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2000
0540 GMT (1:40 a.m. EDT)

MISSION SUCCESS. The GE-1A spacecraft was successfully delivered into Earth orbit by the Proton rocket tonight following a 6 1/2-hour flight, officials with International Launch Services have confirmed. ILS is the joint U.S./Russian venture that globally markets Proton and Atlas rockets.

The Block DM upper stage was fired twice and later released the Lockheed Martin-built communications satellite, which now begins its early life in space that will include orbital maneuvering and thorough testing before entering commercial service in about a month.

Ground controllers have established contact with GE-1A, confirming its health after the launching. The craft will be used by Americom-Asia Pacific -- an endeavor between GE Americom and Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications -- to provide television and broadband data broadcasting to China, Northeast Asia, the Philippines and India.

GE-1A will be parked in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator at 108.2 degrees East longitude. It carries 28 high-powered Ku-band transponders and has a 15-year life expectancy.

The next ILS launch is scheduled for October 12 when an Atlas rocket will loft a military communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Proton technicians will keep busy with another commercial ILS launch expected around October 20 carrying the GE-6 communications satellite for GE Americom.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2000

We have posted a QuickTime video clip of the Proton rocket's liftoff and clip showing the vehicle creating a smoke ring contrail in the predawn skies over Central Asia.

2215 GMT (6:15 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 minutes. With the Block DM upper stage now in a quiet coast period around Earth, we are going to pause our live updates.

Today's launch is still far from over. The highlights of events yet to come will be a pair of firings by the Block DM. The first is scheduled for T+plus 73 minutes, 49 seconds to raise the altitude from the current circular parking orbit to an egg-shaped loop reaching over 20,000 miles high at one end. After the six-minute firing, the rocket will coast up to that high point before the second burn that will raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination from the equator.

Separation of GE-1A to complete this launch is expected at T+plus 6 hours, 41 minutes and 54 seconds, or 0441 GMT (12:41 a.m. EDT).

Check back for confirmation of spacecraft separation later tonight.

2211 GMT (6:11 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. Launch officals report the Block DM upper stage with GE-1A has successfully arrived in the planned 116-nautical mile high parking orbit around Earth.

2210 GMT (6:10 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. Third stage engine shutdown confirmed and the spent stage has separated. The Block DM upper stage and attached GE-1A spacecraft are now flying on their own.

2209 GMT (6:09 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. Less than a minute left in the third stage burn.

2208 GMT (6:08 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. Engine combustion chamber pressure for the third stage reported normal. Proton continues its trek to orbit without problems.

2207 GMT (6:07 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Altitude is 190 km, downrange distance 977 km.

2206 GMT (6:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. The Proton's third stage has ignited with no problems reported. Also, the payload fairing enclosing the GE-1A spacecraft atop the rocket has been jettisoned.

2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 45 seconds. Good separation of the spent second stage has been announced.

2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. A half-minute left in the second stage burn. Downrange distance 430 km altitude 125 km.

2204 GMT (6:04 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. The second stage engines still firing as planned. Internal pressures reported normal.

2203 GMT (6:03 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. Proton's second stage continues its climb to orbit. Pitch, yaw and roll of the vehicle reported normal. Downrange distance 130 km altitude 75 km.

2202 GMT (6:02 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The second stage engines have ignited and the spent first stage has dropped away. Good staging confirmed.

2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. Engine performance still reported normal.

2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. All systems. Rocket approaching maximum dynamic pressure.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Proton rocket has made its roll maneuver to achieve the proper launch heading. The rocket's six first stage engines verified performing as expected.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Proton rocket and the GE-1A telecommunications spacecraft -- a new television and data relay satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region.

2159 GMT (5:59 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Now 60 seconds away from launch of the Proton rocket and GE-1A 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.

2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 seconds and counting. All stages of the Proton launch vehicle are now declared ready for liftoff.

2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight now being verified. The rocket's first three stages and GE-1A spacecraft remain "go" for launch. No problems have been reported during the final countdown to liftoff.

2156 GMT (5:56 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The enable key of the launch sequencer has been turned to the "on" position.

2155 GMT (5:55 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.

2153 GMT (5:53 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket weighs over 1.7 million pounds as it sits on the launch pad. The GE-1A spacecraft accounts for 7,831 pounds of the weight. At launch the Proton's six first stage engines will fire together to propel the massive rocket into the nighttime skies at Baikonur.

2151 GMT (5:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The GE-1A spacecraft payload has been verified ready for launch.

2150 GMT (5:50 p.m. EDT)

Now inside the final 10 minutes to liftoff of the International Launch Services Proton rocket. This will be ILS' 17th Proton mission dating back to 1996. All but one of the previous launches have been successful. Overall this will be 281st Russian Proton rocket extending back to 1965, and will be the 11th of 2000.

2145 GMT (5:45 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes and counting.

2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. Still looking for an on-time launch of the Proton rocket and GE-1A communications satellite at 2200 GMT.

The Proton rocket's first three stages that make up the core vehicle will complete their mission during the first 9 minutes, 49 seconds of the launch.

The Proton third stage will deploy the Block DM upper stage and attached GE-1A spacecraft into a 116 nautical mile circular parking orbit. The Block DM will conduct the first of two firings at T+plus 73 minutes, 49 seconds to begin the journey into the desired orbit for GE-1A. The burn will last about six minutes.

A second burn is planned at T+plus 6 hours, 20 minutes, 4 seconds to completed the powered phase of today's launch. The second Block DM firing is expected to last just under two minutes.

Separation of GE-1A from the Block DM will occur 6 hours, 41 minutes, 54 seconds after liftoff.

2135 GMT (5:35 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. There are no problems being reported as the countdown ticks along smoothly for blastoff at the top of the hour. The Proton stands poised in the predawn darkness at Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazkhstan. Liftoff will occur at 4 a.m. local time at the historic Central Asia launch site.

2128 GMT (5:28 p.m. EDT)

Good day and welcome to our live coverage of the launch of a Russian Proton rocket carrying the GE-1A broadcast relay satellite to serve Asia. The countdown is reported to be on schedule for a liftoff at 2200 GMT (6 p.m. EDT) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan.

The four stages that make up the rocket have been fully fueled for today's mission, which is managed by International Launch Services. Loading of propellants began about six hours ago. The countdown is now under computer sequencer control through the remaining time until launch. Also, the launch team has provided the final updates to the rocket's guidance computer.

0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)

It is launch day for the GE-1A communications satellite that will provide television and data broadcasting capacity for Asia. Liftoff is scheduled for 2200 GMT (6 p.m. EDT).

Spaceflight Now will provide live updates in the final 40 minutes or so of the countdown and the launch. We will also provide a QuickTime streaming video broadcast.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2000

A Russian Proton rocket is on the launch pad for a weekend blastoff carrying an American-made communications satellite that will serve Asia. The GE-1A spacecraft will be lofted into geosynchronous transfer orbit on Sunday for Americom Asia-Pacific, a joint endeavor between GE Americom and Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications.

Liftoff is scheduled for 2200 GMT (6 p.m. EDT) from pad 23 of Launch Complex 81 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The available launch window extends about 10 minutes.

This satellite-delivery mission will be managed under the auspices of International Launch Services -- the U.S./Russian venture that globally markets Proton and Atlas rockets. This will be ILS' 17th Proton launch since 1996.

Proton's three stages will fire for the first 10 minutes of the launch, deploying the Block DM upper stage and attached GE-1A satellite into a parking orbit 116-nautical miles above Earth. The Block DM will later fire two times to propel the satellite cargo into an orbit with a high point of 20,870 nautical miles, low point of 90 nautical miles and inclined 26.46 degrees to the equator. Spacecraft separation from the upper stage to complete the launch is expected six-hours, 41 minutes into flight.

In the days following the launch, GE-1A will fire its own kick motor to arrive in circular geostationary orbit, parking at 108 degrees East longitude.

The broadcasting satellite, built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, will provide direct-to-home television and broadband data network services to China, Northeast Asia, the Philippines and India. The 7,831-pound craft carries a payload of 28 Ku-band transponders on three beams that will allow 8 to 16 to cover Greater China, 8 to 16 to cover Northeast Asia/Philippines and up to 8 for South Asia.

Spaceflight Now will provide continuous live status reports during Sunday's final countdown and launch here on this page. In addition, we will offer a live QuickTime streaming video broadcast starting at 2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT).