T-00:00 |
Main Engine Ignition |
The Antares rocket's two AJ26 engines ignite on the launch pad. |
|
T+00:02.1 |
Liftoff |
Producing about 730,000 pounds of thrust, the rocket's two main engines propel the 131-foot-tall Antares rocket into the sky. |
|
T+03:55 |
First Stage Shutdown |
After consuming its supply of kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants, the Antares first stage shuts down at an altitude of about 63 miles. |
|
T+04:01 |
First Stage Separation |
The first stage separates from the second stage, which begins a 95-second coast phase. |
|
T+05:31 |
Fairing separation |
After flying out of the dense lower atmosphere, the Antares rocket jettisons its clamshell-like 12.8-foot-diameter payload fairing. |
|
T+05:36 |
Interstage jettison |
The interstage adapter connecting the first and second stages is jettisoned. |
|
T+05:40 |
Second Stage Ignition |
The rocket's solid-fueled Castor 30B second stage ignites at an altitude of 106 miles, ramping up to nearly 90,000 pounds of thrust during a 137-second burn. |
|
T+07:57 |
Second Stage Shutdown |
The Castor 30B second stage burns out after reaching a target orbit with a perigee of 122 miles, an apogee of 188 miles, and an inclination of 51.64 degrees. |
|
T+09:57 |
Payload separation |
The second stage deploys the Cygnus spacecraft. |
|