T-0:00:00.0 |
Liftoff |
The Delta 2 rocket's main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters are started moments before launch. The six ground-start strap-on solid rocket motors are ignited at T-0 to begin the mission. |
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T+01:04.0 |
Ground SRM Burnout |
The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out. |
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T+01:05.5 |
Air-Lit SRM Ignition |
The three remaining Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage are ignited. |
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T+0:01:26.0 |
Jettison Ground SRMs |
The six spent ground-lit solid rocket boosters are jettisoned to fall into the Pacific Ocean, with three coming off at T+plus 86 seconds and three at T+plus 87 seconds. The spent casings remained attached until the vehicle passed into preset safety downrange drop zone. |
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T+02:11.5 |
Jettison Air-Lit SRMs |
Having burned out, the three spent air-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned toward the Pacific Ocean. |
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T+0:04:23.5 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later. |
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T+0:04:31.5 |
Stage Separation |
The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Pacific Ocean. |
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T+0:04:37.0 |
Second Stage Ignition |
With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ10-118K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to boost the upper stage and Jason 1 and TIMED spacecraft into the proper orbit. |
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T+0:04:41.0 |
Jettison Nose Cone |
The 10-foot diameter composite payload fairing that protected the Jason 1 and TIMED satellites atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves. |
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T+0:10:04.9 |
Second Stage Cutoff 1 |
The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The vehicle should be in a highly elliptical orbit. The rocket and attached Jason 1 and TIMED spacecraft now begin a 41-minute coast period before the second stage reignites. |
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T+0:51:25.0 |
Second Stage Restart |
Delta's second stage engine reignites for a short firing to raise and circularize the orbital altitude for the Jason 1 payload. The restart happens at a planned altitude of 723.7 miles. |
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T+0:51:49.4 |
Second Stage Cutoff 2 |
The second stage shuts down after reaching an orbit of 712.6 by 718.5 nautical miles inclined 66.04 degrees. |
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T+0:55:20.0 |
Jason 1 Separation |
The French/U.S. Jason 1 ocean-observing satellite is deployed into space from the Delta 2 rocket. |
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T+0:59:40.0 |
Separate DPAF |
The upper cone and cylinder of the Dual Payload Attach Fitting structure is jettisoned from the rocket. Jason 1 was mounted atop DPAF and TIMED is enclosed within the structure's cylinder. |
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T+1:06:22.1 |
Second Stage Restart |
Delta's second stage engine restarts yet again to change the orbital altitude and inclination for the TIMED satellite. |
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T+1:07:04.3 |
Second Stage Cutoff 3 |
The second stage shuts down after a 42-second burst, and should have achieved the desired 343.2 by 718.1 nautical mile orbit inclined 71.32 degrees for the TIMED satellite. |
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T+1:58:53.6 |
Second Stage Restart |
The second stage engine reignites to complete the two-step trek to reach the proper orbit for the TIMED satellite. |
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T+1:59:16.5 |
Second Stage Cutoff 4 |
The second stage shuts down after a 23-second burst, and should have achieved the desired 338.4 by 345.7 nautical mile orbit inclined 74.09 degrees for the TIMED satellite. |
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T+2:05:00.0 |
TIMED Separation |
The Boeing Delta 2 rocket deploys the TIMED atmospheric research spacecraft into orbit for NASA to complete the 289th flight of a Delta vehicle. |