| T-00:00 |
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. |
|
| T+01:03.1 |
Ground SRM Burnout |
| The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out. |
|
| T+01:05.5 |
Air-Lit SRM Ignition |
| The three remaining solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage are ignited. |
|
| T+01:06.0 |
Jettison Ground SRMs |
| The six spent ground-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned in sets of three to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+02:11.5 |
Jettison Air-Lit SRMs |
| Having burned out, the three spent air-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned toward the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+04:23.3 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
| After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later. |
|
| T+04:31.3 |
Stage Separation |
| The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+04:36.8 |
Second Stage Ignition |
| With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ118-K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to place the STSS Demo satellites into the proper orbit. |
|
| T+04:41.0 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The 10-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the STSS Demo satellites atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves. |
|
| T+10:32.3 |
Second Stage Cutoff 1 |
| The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached STSS Demo spacecraft are now in a coast period before the second stage reignites. The orbit achieved should be 830 nautical miles at apogee, 100 miles at perigee and inclined 54.6 degrees. |
|
| T+42:30.0 |
Second Stage Restart |
| Delta's second stage engine reignites for a brief firing that will bring the initial elliptical orbit into a circular one. |
|
| T+43:37.0 |
Second Stage Cutoff 2 |
| The second stage shuts down and completed the powered phase of flight. The circular orbit achieved should be 729 nautical miles high and inclined 58.00 degrees. |
|
| T+47:49.0 |
SV 1 Separation |
| The upper satellite in the stack of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System spacecraft is released into orbit. |
|
| T+55:14.0 |
SV 2 Separation |
| The lower satellite in the stack of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System spacecraft is released to complete the launch. |
