Titan 4B launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Updated: April 4, 2003

T+0:00:00 Liftoff
The twin Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade (SRMU) boosters are ignited and the Titan 4B rocket launches from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
T+0:00:07 Roll Program
Rocket beings a roll maneuver to the flight azimuth for the travel downrange from launch site.
T+0:02:11 Stage 1 Ignition
The Titan 4B rocket's core vehicle stage 1 engine package -- the Aerojet LR87-AJ-11 -- is ignited. The liquid-propellant powerplant burns Aerozine-50 fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.
T+0:02:26 SRMU Separation
Having consumed all their solid-propellant, the two Alliant Techsystems-built solid rocket boosters are jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
T+0:03:28 Jettison Payload Fairing
The tri-sector payload fairing buit by Boeing that protected the Milstar satellite during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.
T+0:05:22 Staging of Titan Core
The first stage engine shuts down and the second stage Aerojet LR91-AJ-11 engine is ignited. The spent first stage is jettisoned from the rest of the space-bound Titan 4B rocket one second after the second stage is started.
T+0:09:12 Stage 2 Shutdown
The liquid-fueled second stage engine completes its firing and begins a momentary coast period before deployment of the upper stage and Milstar payload.
T+0:09:20 Titan/Centaur Separation
The Lockheed Martin-built Centaur upper stage is released from the Titan rocket's core vehicle, which has completed its role in the launch.
T+0:09:41 Centaur Burn 1
The liquid-fueled Centaur stage is ignited for the first of three firings needed to deliver the Milstar satellite into the desired geostationary orbit.
T+0:11:16 Centaur Cutoff 1
The Centaur completes its first burn to achieve a stable low-Earth orbit with the attached Milstar satellite.
T+1:05:31 Centaur Burn 2
After quiet coast period through space, the Centaur stage is restarted in the first of a two-step process to propel Milstar in geostationary orbit.
T+1:09:44 Centaur Cutoff 2
The Centaur engines are shut down following the firing that should raise one side of the orbit to geostationary altitude of 22,300 miles.
T+6:22:01 Centaur Burn 3
Following a lengthy coast to the high point of its orbit -- around geostationary altitude -- the Centaur engines are again reignited to circularize the orbit by raising the low end of the orbit. This will deliver Milstar into a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the planet.
T+6:23:49 Centaur Cutoff 3
Shut down of the Centaur engines occur to complete the powered phase of this launch. The stage now prepares to release the Milstar satellite. Centaur will later perform a collision avoidance maneuver, propellant blowdown and hydrazine depletion after spacecraft separation.
T+6:34:02 Spacecraft Separation
The Milstar 2-F4 secure military communications satellite is deployed into space from the Centaur upper stage to complete the Titan B-35 launch.

Data source: U.S. Air Force.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Titan 4B (B-35)
Payload: Milstar 6
Launch date: April 8, 2003
Launch window: 9:43 a.m. to 1:43 p.m. EDT (1343-1743 GMT)
Launch site: Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Satellite broadcast: Galaxy 3, Transponder 5, C-band

Pre-launch briefing
Mission preview - Our story providing an overview of this launch.

Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Weather forecast - The latest forecast for launch day conditions.

Launch hazard area - A map of the restricted area during liftoff.

Titan 4B - Description of rocket being used in this launch.

Titan 4 history - Chart with listing of previous Titan 4 flights.

Milstar satellite - A look at the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay satellite program.

Communications - Overview of Medium Data Rate and crosslink payloads on Milstar.

Antennas - Technical description of Milstar's medium data rate nulling antennas.

DPS - Digital processing subsystem on Milstar is key to payload.

Titan 4 directory - See our coverage of previous Titan 4 rocket flights.


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