T-00:00:03 |
Engines at Full Thrust |
The five main engines of the Soyuz rocket's core stage and four strap-on boosters are at full thrust. |
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T-00:00:00 |
Launch |
Producing more than 900,000 pounds of thrust, the Soyuz 2-1a rocket soars into the sky from the Guiana Space Center. |
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T+00:01:58 |
Jettison Boosters |
The Soyuz rocket's four strap-on boosters, each powered by an RD-107A engine, are jettisoned after consuming their propellant. |
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T+00:03:29 |
Jettison Fairing |
The ST-type payload fairing is released from the Soyuz rocket when it reaches the edge of the upper atmosphere. The 13.5-foot-diameter fairing protects the payload during the launch countdown and the flight through the dense lower atmosphere. |
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T+00:04:47 |
Core Stage Separation |
Having burned its propellant, the core stage of the Soyuz rocket, also known as the second stage, separates and the third stage's RD-0110 engine ignites to continue the flight. |
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T+00:08:47 |
Soyuz/Fregat Separation |
The Soyuz rocket's third stage releases the Fregat upper stage just shy of orbital velocity. |
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T+00:09:47 |
First Fregat Ignition |
The hydrazine-fueled Fregat upper stage ignites to place the Pleiades 1B satellite in a low-altitude parking orbit. |
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T+00:13:26 |
First Fregat Shutdown |
The Fregat upper stage shuts down to begin a coast phase. |
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T+00:41:56 |
Second Fregat Ignition |
The Fregat stage's main engine fires for a second time to circularize its orbit at an altitude of 432 miles above Earth. |
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T+00:46:05 |
Second Fregat Shutdown |
After a 4-minute, 9-second burn, the Fregat upper stage shuts down after entering a circular orbit with an inclination of 98.2 degrees. |
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T+00:54:55 |
Pleiades 1B Separation |
The Pleiades 1B satellite separates from the upper position on the Soyuz rocket's Fregat upper stage. |
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